Decision to transform a Burnley house into a hog roast training centre delayed

The Spitting Pig Company Ltd, Manchester Road, Burnley, wants to convert The Rookery in Pasturegate, Briercliffe.

The planning application for the change was considered by Burnley Council’s development control committee on Thursday last week. But after a debate, the councillors decided to defer a decision while clarification was sought over whether any of the hog roasting taking place as part of the training might take place outside.

The firm’s application says that the cooking will take place inside the premises. But councillors wanted a guarantee that none would take place in the house’s grounds.

A report by planning officer Elizabeth Hindle says: “The application relates to a change of use of the dwelling house to a residential training centre for ‘Spitting Pig Co Ltd, who have head offices in Burnley.

“The company runs a franchising company for the Hog Roast catering company. The company currently has 34 franchises throughout the UK.

“Following the purchase of the franchise the franchisee is given residential training to ensure they are able to use the equipment and learn to provide a high-quality service. Training is repeated at 12 monthly intervals.

“There would be a maximum of six franchisees on the site at any one time, along with the business’s staff. Fourteen objections have been received.

“Objections have been received in relation to cooking odours and fumes and an increase in noise and disturbance and a result of the change of use of the building.

“The applicant has confirmed that the cooking of hog roasts will take place, but not every day of the week.

“They will learn how to cook the hog roast as part of the training, and this will take place inside the building.

“The council’s environmental health officer has requested a condition which will effectively ensure that suitable extraction is installed and utilised.

“With the inclusion of this condition, officers do not consider there would be a significantly detrimental impact on the amenity of neighbouring properties in this regard.”

The report recommends approval with four conditions. The application will now be considered again at a future meeting.