Plans for up to nine new homes at former Ribchester Hospital site
The former hospital site was granted permission for a mixed residential and commercial development in 1999.
Plans have been submitted to build up to nine new homes on land at the former Ribchester Hospital site.
The proposals involve a parcel of land adjoining Asturian House, off Ribchester Road, which was previously part of the hospital complex.
Applicant James Anderson is seeking permission in principle from Ribble Valley Borough Council for between one and nine residential units.
According to a planning statement prepared by JS Planning Services, the development would most likely comprise a block of apartments similar to the existing Asturian House building.
However, the applicant has also left open the possibility of constructing individual houses, depending on further assessments of the site.
The land currently comprises a maintained grassed area bordered by a mature hedgerow along Ribchester Road.
The former hospital site was granted permission for a mixed residential and commercial development in 1999, with subsequent approval in 2002 for the demolition of hospital buildings and construction of 31 houses and apartments.
Asturian House was originally developed as office accommodation before being converted into six apartments following planning approval in 2017.
Although the latest application site is designated as employment land in the borough's Local Plan, planning consultants argue this designation is no longer relevant following the building's conversion to residential use.
They also maintain that the proposed development would make better use of previously developed land and help address the borough's housing shortage.
The planning statement highlights a council report from August which indicated that Ribble Valley had just 2.24 years of deliverable housing land supply, significantly below the five-year requirement.
The site also falls outside the defined settlement boundary and is subject to a Tree Preservation Order covering several species.
However, the applicant argues these issues can be addressed during the detailed planning stage.
The statement concludes: "There are no adverse impacts specifically relating to the principle of development."
It adds that permission should be granted "without delay".
The application, reference 3/2026/0835, is currently awaiting a decision from Ribble Valley Borough Council.
If permission in principle is granted, further technical approval would be required before construction could begin.
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