Retrospective plans for a car washing and valeting facility have been given the go-ahead by the council.

The application, for SA Car Wash Sales in Whalley Road, Clayton-le-Moors, means the business can now operate lawfully on the site, having operated without the required permission since September 2022.

It previously had been a car sales business, which shut down prior to the opening of the car wash.

The application, submitted by Shamrais Ansar, included the installation of a six-foot tall timber fence, a valeting bay and office constructed of galvanised steel with a sheet roof covering, and a pre-fabricated modular building.

The facility has space for four vehicles at any one time and would create two jobs, one full-time and one part-time, and applied to be operational from 9am to 6pm, seven days a week.

A drawing of the car wash's planned layoutA drawing of the car wash's planned layout (Image: Hyndburn Council)

In his consultation, Hyndburn Council’s environmental protection officer Andrew Hill said he was “pleased to see the inclusion of screens as the spray from the site had been the subject of complaints” to the council.

He also asked for opening hours on Sundays to be limited to 10am to 4pm to respect residents nearby.

They also must install additional surface water drainage to stop it overflowing onto neighbour’s property and the street, after complaints were raised about this.

Lancashire County Council’s highways team also said the application was permissible provided signage, road markings and marked bays are included to ensure traffic flows through the site, and suitable water drains installed to prevent it flowing into the street.

In the planning officer’s report, it stated: “Evidence presented shows that during busy periods, the car wash has resulted in drivers partly blocking the carriageway for opposing traffic on Whalley Road.

“In light of its previous lawful use, the application site is considered to fall within the definition of the previously developed land.

“The proposal for the retention of car wash and car valeting facility, located in a site which has previously being used as car sales purposes is considered to be acceptable in principle.”

The plans were approved with seven conditions, which included restricted Sunday opening hours, new drainage and road markings being installed, and the glazed screen being installed by July 31.