GOVERNMENT inspectors will decide the fate of part retrospective plans to create a storage and welfare facility off the M6 after an appeal was lodged.

L.& W. Wilson Ltd has submitted an appeal to the Planning Inspectorate to use a site just off Fairthorns Road near junction 37 of the M6 as a temporary storage compound for contractors after Westmorland and Furness Council turned plans down due to concerns over highway safety.

Appeal documents say the storage and welfare facility supports ‘essential infrastructure works’ along the motorway and describe the council’s decision as ‘wholly erroneous’.

The planning statement says the land contains portacabins, welfare units, land for material storage and solar PV panels.

According to planning documents the only non-retrospective element of the planning application is the creation of an access road.

The council turned down the application in January and stated the proposed development would result in ‘significant harm’ to highway safety.

The decision notice states: “The application site is located in an unsustainable location within the open countryside, significant away from any settlement, and the applicant has failed to demonstrate the essential need for the proposed development in the location proposed.

“The proposed development would result in significant harm to highways safety due to the intensification of the adjacent country lane, particularly by large construction vehicles, and also due to the distracting high level lighting erected at the site.”

However, appeal documents state the location of the site in open countryside is ‘justified’ by the need to be located close to the infrastructure works and add the impact on highways has been assessed as ‘negligible’.

The planning statement submitted by the applicant says: “The proposal is sought to allow for the storage of materials and provision of onsite welfare units in association with essential contracting works primarily relating to the strategic road network. The proposal would utilise previously developed land including the existing site access and creation of a new temporary access to provide a suitable compound for contractors carrying out the essential works.

“The proposal would not result in an unacceptable impact on the local highways network and any traffic would be limited only to those carrying out the contracting work who would exit the site turning left.”

The appeal is currently under consideration by the Planning Inspectorate.