Plans have been approved to build a three-bedroom holiday cottage in the Ribble Valley despite claims the local holiday let market has become “flooded.”

The site is on land close to Knowle Hey in Stoneygate Lane, Ribchester, allowing for small-scale holiday lets.

A planning statement submitted to the council said the letting will be a three-bedroom holiday cottage which also provides an open-plan kitchen, dining, and living area.

The statement continued: “The proposed development of the site for tourist accommodation will bring benefits to the local economy.

"The design of the development is appropriate to its location and will not have any adverse impact on the quality of the landscape.

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“The site will be suitably soft landscaped to suit the surrounding area. Paving is proposed to the perimeter of the property with a resin-bound driveway providing access to the site. The garden amenity areas are to be lawn with areas of planting.”

One third-party response was received by the council from a neighbour who objected to the application, saying Ribchester has enough holiday lets.

They said: “Stoneygate Lane in Ribchester already has numerous holiday lets.

"I think that the market for holiday lets in Ribchester has well and truly been flooded. How can more holiday lets in this area be justified?

“Stoneygate is a busy road with a 60mph speed limit, there is no pavement and no street lighting.

"The number of pedestrians using Stoneygate has increased since all the holiday lets. It’s just an accident waiting to happen.

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“Ribchester is supposed to be a small village, yet we keep letting more and more buildings fill our green spaces, impacting on wildlife, light pollution, and noise.

“Are all existing lets in the area full to capacity? I don’t think so, so why do we need more?

"Maybe a back route to get a change of use to a residential property in the future.”

Ribble Valley Borough Council approved the plans subject to a number of conditions, meaning construction can go ahead.