Lancaster to sell pair of Mainway blocks
The city council had originally planned to refurbish and retain Lune House and Derby House, however the rising cost of the project has prompted the authority to change tack.
“The increase in costs resulting from changes to the wider economy and the lack of financial contributions/subsidy available from the government mean that the city council is no longer in a position to deliver the refurbishment of Lune and Derby House as originally planned,” Lancaster City Council told Place North West.
As a result, the authority is looking to sell the blocks, which are located on the 1960s Mainway estate, to a developer.
The refurbishment of the wider 257-home estate is much-needed. A council report published in February 2022 noted that most of the houses at Mainway would not be habitable in three to five years’ time because of maintenance problems.
Last year, the city council announced it was working with Place Capital Group to redevelop the council estate.
Place Capital is working with architect Grounded on the scheme, with AG Building + Consultancy acting as the employer’s agent for Lancaster City Council.
As part of the Mainway project, the city council is close to finalising the purchase of the former Skerton High School building to incorporate it into the wider masterplan.
At a recent cabinet meeting, councillors agreed to go ahead with the detailed work and the funding required to put in a planning application for new homes on the school site.
So, would this be a ‘knock them down and start again’ job? Or is it cheaper to renovate?
Lots of people use the roads around there to park before walking across the Lune into town – could use this land as proper car park instead?
By BLS Bob
That’s disappointing. Those blocks were meant to be the first phase of testing what could be done for the wider estate remodelling and refurbishment. I wonder what that now means for the other blocks of flats. Also – does this mean that 24 social housing units have now been lost?
By Mavis