Controversial plan for 200 homes in Lancaster refused
There were a number of concerns and objections
Controversial plans for 200 homes on greenfield land on the edge of a Lancaster village have been refused.
Councillors on Lancaster City Council’s planning committee have rejected an application from Wrenman Strategic Land Ltd, which wanted outline permission for up to 200 homes on land west of Slyne Road at Bolton Le Sands.
The application had prompted more than 600 objections to Lancaster City Council and dozens of objectors attended today’s planning committee meeting in Morecambe (February 16).
Councillors said the plan threatened urban sprawl in the green belt and some were unhappy with the land being viewed as ‘grey belt’, a newer planning term for land deemed less important for farming, environmental or landscape reasons, and potentially suited for new development. They insisted it was good quality farmland and vital ‘green lung’ for the area.
Objectors included Bolton le Sands residents, the Friends of Lapwing Fields Greenspaces campaign group, the owners of the historic listed Slyne Hall and David Morris, the former Morecambe Conservative MP, who spoke at the planning meeting.
Concerns included building on the green belt, the risk of merging different villages, pressure on local schools, traffic congestion, flood risks and the impact on the landscape’s character. Objections also came from Bolton le Sands and Slyne with Hest parish councils, and Lancaster Civic Vision.
The outline plan includes proposals for site access but other details, such as house designs, would have come at a later stage, if supported.
Applicant Wrenman Strategic Land had said the outline plan fitted with local and national policies. It included up to 90 new affordable homes, a proposed section 106 agreement to meet infrastructure needs, new or improved green spaces and respect for the local landscape. It also said there was a shortage of housing supply in the Lancaster area.
Furthermore, Wrenman said the Slyne Road development would represent £47m in construction investment, 687 full-time equivalent jobs, spending by new households of £1.4m in the first 18 months of occupation, and over 200 economically-active residents living there.
Some councillors said new homes were much needed including affordable ones. But after a debate, the majority of councillors refused the application.