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Developing a Local Plan for Lancaster District
Public consultation Friday 27 January 2017 to Friday 24 March 2017
Shaping a better future
Promoting City, Coast & Countryside
2 | Local Plan Consultation 2017
Local Plan Consultation 2017 | 3
Developing a Local Plan for Lancaster District
Background and how we have got to where we are
Lancaster City Council is consulting on a new Local Plan for the district.
National Planning Policy
There are two draft documents for the
Making enough housing available for the needs of this country’s growing population is a national priority. The Government wants councils to significantly boost the supply of housing through their local plans. The Government has instructed councils to calculate how many new homes are needed locally and then make opportunities available to build all of these. The Government also expects councils to prepare local plans that make development opportunities available for economic growth and job creation.
community to look at. The Strategic Policies and Land Allocations Development Plan Document (DPD) is an important document. It sets out a “spatial vision” on how development needs, such as housing, employment and retailing, will be met for at least the next fifteen years. It allocates land for development, such as housing and employment, and, identifies land which should be protected because of its environmental,
Strategic Options Consultation (2014) The council has been calculating how many new jobs could be created and how many new homes are needed. In summer 2014 it was becoming clear that many new jobs and homes were needed and the council consulted on five “Strategic Options’ for meeting these needs: urban extensions, reviewing the Green Belt, distributing development throughout the district, the significant expansion of a limited number of villages, and building a whole new settlement.
social or economic importance. An update This consultation set a starting point for investigating how greater development needs could be addressed in the district.
to the existing Development Management DPD is also available for consultation. This sets out the planning policies which are used to make decision on planning proposals. Further information: To receive further updates, please sign up to the planning policy consultation list at www.lancaster.gov.uk/planningpolicyconsultation
“T he Government is committed to
boos t ing t he supply of housing...”
Promoting City, Coast & Countryside
People, Homes and Jobs’ Consultation (2015) In October 2015 the council asked the community again to consider approaches for meeting housing needs and job requirements in the ‘People, Homes and Jobs’ consultation. This identified a hybrid option for meeting development needs using elements of the approaches from the previous consultation: urban expansion of the main settlement of Lancaster, a review of the Green Belt, and, the potential significant expansion of the village of Dolphinholme. The other potential approaches, distributing development throughout the district and the building of a new settlement were not further advanced because these options had greater infrastructure and environmental constraints. Following the consultation, the options have been refined further; looking at the potential constraints to development, and how they may be overcome, the availability of land to meet development needs, and the response from the community and stakeholders on the achievability of the hybrid option. A range of the most suitable, available and achievable sites are now shown in the draft local plan.
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“...an annual
housing need of t he dis t rict at
Meeting Development Needs – Evidence Base The local plan is prepared using evidence. Housing evidence includes the Independent Housing Requirements Study (October 2015) which combines population and economic projections to recommend that between 13,000 and 14,000 new homes are needed in the district during the period of the local plan. This would mean an average of 675 new homes being built every year. The work undertaken in the Independent Housing Requirements Study has been intensely scrutinised by council officers, councillors and members of the public to test that it has been properly prepared in accordance with national guidance. In February 2016, councillors formally recognised the requirement as a true reflection of housing needs within the district and decided to progress with a new local plan. The Independent Housing Requirements Study recommends how many new homes are needed and another document, the Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment (SHLAA), considers all the individual sites where these homes could be built. The assessment was updated by the council in late 2015, it concluded that there are not enough sites, including the very many brownfield sites that the council is aware of, to meet the housing needs of the district. The council has therefore identified new strategic greenfield sites to meet the housing need.
Development Strategy To calculate the district’s economic growth potential the council prepared an Employment Land Review in early 2015. The review states that there is an opportunity to create approximately 9,500 new jobs within the district over the plan period up to 2031. This recognised the potential at key employment locations including Lancaster University, Lancaster Royal Infirmary, the Port of Heysham and Heysham Nuclear Power Station. Local economic opportunities are boosted further by the opening of the new Bay Gateway Link Road which improves accessibility between South Heysham and the M6. It is important that, in terms of identifying future development opportunities, that the local plan responds to this evidence and plans positively and proactively to achieve growth. Further information on the local plan evidence base is on the council’s website: www.lancaster.gov.uk/localplan
“...t he council has
to look towards t he
development of s t rategic
greenfield sites to meet t he evidence housing need.”
In the 2015 ‘People, Homes and Jobs’ consultation the Council described an overall strategy in which development needs continue to be met by an urban-focussed approach that is supplemented by new large strategic development sites which can be developed for both housing and employment. The response from the consultation on the overall strategy was a positive one and is one that has been reflected within the identification of land to meet future needs, as outlined over the page.
approximately 675
homes to be built...”
Local Plan highlight s
6 | Local Plan Consultation 2017
Arnside and Silverdale AONB Working jointly with South Lakeland District Council, the council has prepared a plan document for the AONB area which sets out policy approaches and allocations for this shared area.
District Map
Silverdale
Arnside and Silverdale AONB
Silverdale Warton CARNFORTH TOWN CENTRE
!
Central Morecambe The council will continue with regeneration projects in central Morecambe to improve the town centre’s offer for residents and visitors, and, following on from the housing regeneration at Chatsworth Gardens, further housing renewal in the West End.
South Carnforth
Heysham Gateway
! !
North Lancaster
!
Wray
Halton Caton and Brookhouse
!
!
Wennington
Hornby
Nether Kellet
MORECAMBE TOWN CENTRE
!
East Lancaster
Forest of Bowland
LANCASTER CITY CENTRE
Middleton Bailrigg Garden Village
Overton
Arkholme
Arkholme
Over Kellet
Bolton-Le-Sands Hest Bank Slyne
Warton
South Carnforth This strategic allocation includes both greenfield and brownfield land near Windermere Road. Development, including at the M6 Lundsfield Quarry site, could see approximately 750 new homes being built.
Galgate Dolphinholme
A601(M) J35
Over Kellet
Carnforth
Rural Housing Need A687 It is expected that growth will take place in many of the district’s villages within the plan period. For example, a site in Hornby could see 60 new homes built, land in Middleton and Overton could see 110 new homes.
Regeneration
Environment
Employment
Urban Areas
International Nature Conservation Site
Lancaster University Innovation Park
Sustainable Rural Settlement
Area of outstanding Natural Beauty
Employment Area
North Lancashire Green Belt
Neighbourhood Plan Area Designation
Key Greenspace Network
Arnside and Silverdale (AONB) DPD
Legend ! Regeneration Priority Area
Morecambe Area Action Plan Strategic Sites
Sustainable Rural Settlement North Lancashire Green Belt Neighbourhood Plan Area Designation
Transport National and Regional Strategic Highway Network Bay Gateway National and Regional Public and Freight Transport Corridor
A683 Hest Bank
M6
Slyne
Halton
Morecambe
Heysham Gateway With much improved access to the M6 via the Bay Gateway, South Heysham will be a key focus for regeneration and economic growth.
J34
Caton and Brookhouse
A683
Forest of Bowland
A683
Lancaster A6 Middleton
Lancaster University Health Innovation Campus Work on the first phase of the Innovation Campus, creating of up to 2,000 new jobs in the knowledge-based economy is expected to start soon.
Wennington Wray
Cockerham
North Lancaster A strategic allocation in North Lancaster which will include land for employment and up to 1000 new homes.
A65
Hornby
Nether Kellet
Bolton-Le-Sands
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Overton
East Lancaster A strategic allocation in East Lancaster which will deliver up to 1,000 new homes. The development of this greenfield area will need a re-modelling of Lansil Golf Course AONB to allow a road access onto Caton Road. Lancaster Canal Corridor Regeneration of the Canal Corridor will bring forward new retailing, leisure, employment and residential uses. This will improve the overall offer of Lancaster city centre for residents, visitors and students. It is a key priority for the council.
Heysham
Junction 33 Agri-Business Centre An allocation is planned close to Junction 33 for a new employment hub for agricultural businesses. This will include the relocation of the existing auction mart from East Lancaster. Employment on this site will be restricted to agricultural related businesses.
Galgate J33
M6 Cockerham
Dolphinholme
Bailrigg Garden Village A strategic site in south Lancaster will include land for employment and up to 3,500 new homes and development at Lancaster University. Development in this area will benefit from the reconfiguration of Junction 33 of the M6. A direct access into south Lancaster from the motorway with a new road to by-pass Galgate is being investigated.
A6
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Key Issues for the Development Plan to address
Key Issues for the Development Plan to address
Meeting the Housing Need
Planningthe Meeting for Housing Jobs Need and Economic Growth
The need for new housing within the district has never been greater. People are living longer and living in their own homes for longer, whilst younger people who would like to have a home of their own do not have as much opportunity to buy or rent their own place in the way that their parents did.
The need for new housing within the district havedistrict The never been is well greater. positioned As society for economic continues to evolve, growth. Following with people the opening living longer of theand Bayliving Gateway in theirRoad Link own homes there isfor now longer, greatand accessibility younger people to the choosing to motorway network. live on their The district own more is also theon need thefor new housing West Coast Main to meet Line,all andpeoples the Port aspirations of Heysham has only grown offers freight stronger. services to Ireland and freight and ferry services to the Isle of Man. To achieve the levels of housing growth it will require It is however significant projected changes thatin the the district physical will have environment problems replacing of the district its aging through workthe force regeneration because of brownfield so many youngland people and move the development away, including of large strategic greenfield university graduates,sites. and not enough young people move into the district from elsewhere. To realise the economic potential of the district and protect its high level of sustainability we must find ways to retain and attract young workers, house them, and give them a reason to settle here.
The council has a strong track record of regenerating major brownfield sites. Lancaster Moor Hospital, Luneside and Nightingale Hall Farm have all been redeveloped. However even brownfield sites are in short supply.
Achieving the levels of recommended new housing growth will need the regeneration of both brownfield land and new large, or strategic, greenfield sites.
“T he need for
new housing wit hin
t he dis t rict has never been greater.”
The Council have a strong track record for regenerating major brownfield sites, for example development at Lancaster Moor Hospital, Luneside Economic opportunities in thehowever district are and Nightingale Hall Farm, thesignificant. resource The opportunities described in thefor Strategic of brownfield sitesare which are suitable housing Economic Plan prepared by significantly the Lancashire development has now been depleted. Economic Partnership (LEP). The LEPof would like Whilst the local plan identifies a range brownfield to boost number of knowledge-based industries sites for the future housing growth this is nowhere in thesufficient district using linkages the higher near to meet overallwith development needs. education establishments in the district, including at the Lancaster University Health Innovation Campus. The role of the Lancaster Canal Corridor project to create and secure jobs in leisure and retail is also significant. As a result the Local Plan identifies a range of sites on which employment proposals will be supported, including land in the North Lancaster and Bailrigg Garden Village strategic allocations, and, through the regeneration of existing sites within the Heysham Gateway area.
“Evidence sugges t s t hat economic
oppor t unit ies in t he
dis t rict are posit ive...”
10 | Local Plan Consultation 2017
“T he dis t rict has
Local Plan Consultation 2017 | 11
a unique nat ural and his toric environment which defines it as a place.”
Delivering the Infrastructure Needed
What happens next?
The council knows that development on the scale proposed cannot be achieved without significant investment in the district’s infrastructure.
The council will take time to consider the comments made from the consultation. Comments are expected from residents, people employed in the district, land owners, developers and infrastructure providers. The council will also be updating the evidence that informs the local plan, for example evidence about the type of housing that is needed.
In preparing this local plan the council has worked with a wide range of infrastructure providers, including United Utilities (water and sewerage), Lancashire County Council (highways, flooding and education) and the North Lancashire Clinical Commissioning Group (Healthcare). The council has also involved working with infrastructure providers to understand their programmes of works and ensure that their plans – such as the ‘Highways & Transport Masterplan’ (Lancashire County Council) and the ‘Better Care Together’ Strategy (Clinical Commissioning Group) – are fully taken into account in the preparation of the plan. The council has prepared an Infrastructure Delivery Plan – an IDP- which sets out what new infrastructure is needed. As needs can change over time the council will continue to talk with infrastructure providers. The IDP will be updated as work on the local plan continues.
Protecting the Environment This district has an environment of the highest quality and interest. This includes the protected landscapes of the Forest of Bowland and Arnside and Silverdale, the internationally significant wildlife of Morecambe Bay, the Bowland Fells and Leighton Moss, and the built heritage of Lancaster, Morecambe, Heysham, Carnforth and the rural areas. The local plan has an important role in protecting the environment and ensuring that development proposals are balanced against the need to protect heritage. The council works with stakeholders, such as Historic England and Natural England to understand and take account of heritage and the natural environment when preparing the local plan. The local plan also aims to ensure that there are enough areas of open space, including for sport and recreation use and just for amenity. Working with community representatives the council has also identified Local Green Spaces in the local plan, these are areas which are of special interest to local communities.
The council will take account of the comments and new evidence and is likely to publish a revised version of the plan towards the end of 2017. That version will be the one that the council formally publishes. There will be a period of six weeks when anyone can make comments on the published plan.
The published plan, the evidence that informed it and all the comments that have been received in the six week period, will then be submitted to the government. The government will then appoint an Inspector to conduct an independent Examination. The Inspector will consider the plan has been properly prepared. To help decide if has been properly he or she will hold a local hearing and invite people or organisations to explain their views on the parts of the plan that they wish to know more about. The Inspector will then submit a report, usually with recommendations. If the Inspector decides that it has been properly prepared then the council can adopt the local plan. Adoption is not expected until late 2018.
People
Homes
Jobs Closing date for your comment s
Public consultation
Starts Friday 27th January 2017
24 March ‘17
Local Plan for Lancaster District
The new Local Plan for Lancaster district will identify land to meet future development needs and will protect areas which are of environmental, economic and community importance. We welcome your views and opinions on the content of the e av H documents which form part of the Local Plan.
YO UR say
Contac t Us
Visit
Drop in events Monday 6 February Wednesday 8 February Thursday 9 February Tuesday 14 February Saturday 18 February Monday 20 February Tuesday 21 February Thursday 23 February Tuesday 28 February Wednesday 1 March Thursday 2 March Monday 6 March Tuesday 7 March Wednesday 8 March Monday 13 March
To complete an online form and view the documents, visit;
www.lancaster.gov.uk/localplan
Lancaster Methodist Church, Scotforth Road, LA1 4TE 4pm-7pm Christ Church Hall, Wyresdale Road, LA1 3EA 4pm-7pm Carnforth Heritage Centre, Carnforth Station, LA5 9TR 4pm-7pm Central Lancaster High School, Crag Road, LA1 3LS 4pm-7pm St Nicholas Arcade, Lancaster City Centre, LA1 1NB 10.30am-1.30pm Ellel Village Hall, Main Road, Galgate, LA2 0LQ 4pm-7pm Carnforth Civic Hall, North Road, Carnforth, LA5 9LJ 3pm-6pm Middleton Parish Hall, Low Road, LA3 3LG 4pm-7pm Morecambe Library, Central Drive, LA4 5DL 4pm-7pm Beaumont College, Slyne Road, LA2 6AP 4pm-7pm Rowley Court, Scotforth Road, LA1 4PU 4pm-7pm Hala St Paul’s Community Centre, Hala Square, LA1 4RW 4pm-7pm Hornby Institute, Main Street, Hornby, LA2 8JR 4pm-7pm Lancaster Library, Market Square, LA1 1HY 12.30am-3.30pm Lancaster House Hotel, Green Lane, LA1 4GJ 3pm-7pm
planningpolicy@lancaster.gov.uk
Writ e to us
Regeneration and Planning, PO Box 4, Town Hall, Dalton Square, Lancaster, LA1 1 PJ.
Fu r t her infor mat ion www.lancaster.gov.uk/planningpolicyconsultation
To receive further updates, please sign up to the planning policy consultation list at
Shaping a better future
Promoting City, Coast & Countryside