Approval for Halton housing
Lancaster City Council has approved an outline application for the development of 60 homes off Low Road in Halton, despite 70 objections from neighbours and concerns from local MP David Morris.
The application was submitted by Addison Planning on behalf of local farmer Frank Towers. The scheme would be made up of detached, semi-detached, terraced houses and bungalows, with 40% affordable housing.
A developer is yet to be agreed.
The 10-acre triangular site is defined as countryside within the emerging Lancaster local plan, but is not part of the green belt.
According to a report submitted ahead of a meeting of Lancaster City Council’s planning committee, 70 objections were received from neighbours who questioned the scale and location of the scheme. Correspondence from David Morris MP said that “the development would significantly change the footprint of the village in a vastly rural area”, while Halton Parish Council that it would be an unwelcome expansion of the village.
City Council planning officers recommended the scheme for approval and said that as the council does not have a five year land supply of housing, the application should be considered in the context of the national presumption in favour of sustainable development.
However the report acknowledged that “it is likely that the development will have a significant local impact on the character and appearance of the landscape given the topography and prominent position of the site”.
Jay Everett, partner at Addison Planning, said that there would be a consultation on details of the scheme once a developer has been identified.
Nick Brown Architects designed the project.