Marina Extension Allowed on Appeal
Steven Abbott Associates LLP (SAA) has won an appeal to allow the addition of 56 moorings at St Mary’s Marina, Rufford.
St Mary’s Marina is located on the edge of the settlement of Rufford and lies to the south of Diamond Jubilee Road. The Marina serves the Leeds Liverpool Canal.
The scheme will see the number of moorings at the marina rise to a total of 156 along with a new access road, car parking and landscaping. The extension was needed to meet the existing demand for moorings in that area.
The initial planning application was refused by West Lancashire Borough Council because they felt that the scheme would impact on the openness of the Green Belt. However the Planning Inspector did not agree with this decision and allowed the appeal. The Inspector felt that the demand for additional moorings outweighed the impact that the scheme would cause.
SAA Partner, Richard Percy said, “I’m pleased that the Inspector has agreed with our argument that additional moorings would be best located as an extension to an existing and highly popular marina, rather than elsewhere on the canal.”
(March 2010)
