We want to protect a 17th Century Ancient Woodland & its delicate ecosystem from the threat of nearby development. 

The Great Wood forms part of the much loved Astley Park in Chorley & is owned by Chorley Council. Astley Park is designated as a Historic Park and Gardens under the National Heritage Act 1983.

The Great Wood is one of only 9 designated “Core Conservation Areas” in Chorley & the adjacent “Stepping Stone Habitat” both form part of Chorley Council’s ‘Ecological Network’ and forms a natural local defence to climate change.

The Great Wood is a designated “Biological Heritage Site” and  most of the trees in the Great Wood are individually listed in the Lancashire Inventory of Ancient Woodland (Provisional) English Nature 1994.

The immediate threat is the pending ‘Major Development’ planning application for the erection of a commercial Airdome by Athletico Buckshaw Futsal Limited on land owned by Parklands Academy School which is inside the 15m Buffer Zone required by the Government’s s175 of the NatIonal Planning Policy Framework and Natural England’s Standing Advice. 

S175 (c) states that “when determining planning applications....if development results in the loss or deterioration of irreplaceable habitats (such as ancient woodland and ancient or veteran trees)...then planning permission should be refused, unless there are wholly exceptional reasons and a suitable compensation strategy exists”.

In 2014, Parklands School made an planning application to construct a floodlit multi use sports pitch on the playing fields (Ref: 14/00902/FUL). After consideration of the proximity of the Ancient Woodland by Chorley Council, the pitch was constructed 24 metres away from the Great Wood to protect root systems and minimise ecological harm.

Chorley Council has attached 13 constraints to the current planning application. The first constraint type that is listed is “Ancient Woodland Buffer”.

The protection of local Ancient Woodland is specifically referred to at Paragraph 7.55 of Policy BNE10 of the 2012-2026 Chorley Local Plan which was adopted on 21 July 2015.

Policy HW1 (d)  of this plan states that any proposals for sporting facilities will only be permitted if, inter alia, “...it will not cause harm/have a detrimental effect to a site of nature conservation value”.

Whilst we wholeheartedly support the provision of new sporting facilities for Chorley, (for example at Westway, which we understand will open to the public in July 2021) we oppose the location of this proposed Airdome development due to its immediate proximity to this unique, irreplaceable and beautiful Ancient Woodland.

We want to see 4 detailed independent reports on the following matters to be submitted before the planning application is heard by Chorley Council’s Planning Committee:

1. An Ecological Impact Appraisal & Assessment of the proposed Airdome development on any ‘loss or deterioration’ that it may have on the ecology of the Great Wood to include a commentary on its effects on irreplaceable and priority habitats & protected species;

2. A Tree Impact Report from an arboriculturalist which includes an analysis of the root systems from the trees in the Great Wood which will be impacted by circa 240 tonnes of concrete that will be sunk 0.9m into the ground and will be used by the metal ringbeams to secure the proposed Airdome to the base;

3. A Bat Survey from an expert (6 species of bat have been located in Astley Park and there are over 90 bat boxes in operation) as the Airdome will be situated by the edge of the Great Wood where bats forage for food and;

4. A Carbon Footprint Analysis of the proposed development (to include direct Greenhouse Gas emissions from increased car traffic to the site).

These reports then need to be analysed and commented on by the Greater Manchester Ecology Unit, as occurred as part of the Planning Application for new houses at Ackhurst Lodge Drive made by Miller Homes in 2016 (reference 16/00873/FULMAJ).

You can view the application, the 13 constraints and comment on the planning documentation via: 

Www.Chorley.gov.uk/planning 

(Reference: 21/01255/FULMAJ).

Help us to protect the precious Ancient Woodland by signing this petition and objecting to the Airdome planning application so that your voice can be heard.

Thanks for your support!

The Friends of Chorley Great Wood (21.4.21)

Twitter: @SaveChorleyGW

Facebook: @friendsofchorleygreatwood

Instagram: @FriendsofChorleyGreatWood

Web: www.friendsofchorleygreatwood.org

“Great oaks from little acorns grow”