A Conservative council leader in East Lancashire - on the doorstep of the Forest of Bowland - has expressed caution over the government's new investment zones.

Cllr Stephen Atkinson, who heads Tory-run Ribble Valley Council, is concerned about any relaxation of planning controls, given the proximity of the area of outstanding natural beauty, which straddles Lancashire and North Yorkshire.

Investment zones were announced by the government in September to create new locations offering low tax arrangements and minimal planning procedures.

They are intended to accelerate business growth and the construction of new homes and commercial buildings.

The zones are similar to the government’s new freeports network, where targeted tax relief and other support is offered to businesses.

Both initiatives are key parts of the government’s Levelling-Up agenda. But both have raised concerns including environmental protection, local planning control and business displacement fears.

Cllr Atkinson told a recent full council meeting: "The government has launched investment zones but Ribble Valley says the advantages of these do not make up for the loss of planning controls. We are very close to the area of outstanding natural beauty.”

The government’s investment zone statement says: “There will be designated development sites to both release more land for housing and commercial development, and to support accelerated development.

"The need for planning applications will be minimised and where planning applications remain necessary, they will be radically streamlined.

"Development sites may be co-located with, or separate to, tax sites, depending on what makes the most sense for the local economy.”

Councils wanting to take part were invited to submit expressions of interest in October. Lancashire County Council plumped for three 'investment corridors; - the one for East Lancs runs from Samlesbury and through Hyndburn, Burnley and Pendle.

Cllr Atkinson also spoke of council help for town centres and aid from the likes of the new UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

He added: “High streets across the country are facing difficult times. Retailers have not fully recovered from the pandemic and they are faced with increasing costs, particularly energy costs, and now their income is being affected as shoppers have less disposable income to spend.

“Our towns appear more resilient than many. While as a council we cannot do much when shops are empty, as they are privately-owned businesses, we can put measures in place to encourage both businesses and shoppers to come to Clitheroe.

“As an example, the food festival was a great success. We will be having a Christmas market in Clitheroe this year and looking forward, hopefully, to the UK Shared Prosperity Fund to improve the streetscape in our main towns.”