Bellway proposal returns to Lancaster committee
Three years on from securing a resolution to approve, an amended pitch for 115 homes at Quernmore will go before members next week.
The applicants are Bellway Homes, along with William Airey, Pauline Ainley & Nathan Airey, whose case will be considered at Lancaster City Council’s planning regulatory committee meeting on 20 April. Approval is recommended.
APD and Tyler Grange are on the professional team.
February 2023 saw members vote that permission be granted for 116 homes, subject to a Section 106 legal agreement and conditions. However, there were then delays, with haggling over the tenure of affordable housing and viability, so the S106 was not completed.
Furthermore, in November 2023, officers advised that a flood risk sequential test would be required to ensure that flood risk requirements of the NPPF were addressed.
This led the applicant to re-think things, submitting a fresh scheme of up to 125 homes, which as set out in LCC’s report for next week’s session, officers were set to recommend for refusal.
Further negotiations have since taken place, resulting in the current iteration, of 115 homes. This returns to committee due to the passage of time, and changes in policy, including adoption of the climate emergency review of Lancaster’s local plan.
The site amounts to 13.7 acres and is in the east of Lancaster, less than two miles from the city centre.
The housing mix as it stands is for 80 market-sale homes and 35 affordable. There would be eight one-bed apartments, 18 two-bed houses, 58 three-bed houses and 25 four-bed houses, and six two-bed bungalows.
Access to the site currently comes from an agricultural access from Quernmore Road to the south and a private driveway to the east. The eastern boundary of the site is formed by the M6, and the southern boundary by Quernmore Road, with some linear residential development along the southern side of the highway.
The western side bounds a private access to farm buildings, beyond which lies the former Lancaster Moor Hospital and associated land, which has been developed for housing and includes a small food store. To the north of the site lies open fields. There is housing in the area, while more is likely on allocated sites.
Quernmore Parish Council is an objector, as is Lancaster Civic Society, which opposes development of “the last green spaces east of the city”. Concerns are also raised by the council’s conservation team and arboricultural officer, along with South Lancaster Flood Action Group.
Chief among the conditions attached to the approval, should committee vote with recommendation, is a contribution of close to £230,000 for highway improvements, notably at the Pointer roundabout.
Documents relating to the scheme can be viewed on LCC’s planning portal, reference 21/01008/FUL.
