Land East of Fulwood Drive Oakmere p.Google Earth

More than 150 objections to the Morecambe scheme have been lodged. Credit: Google Earth

Oakmere eyes double success in Lancashire 

A pair of projects in Morecambe and Arkholme totalling 152 homes are tipped for approval when Lancaster City Council’s planning committee meets next week. 

Oakmere Homes is hoping to secure outline planning consent to build 129 homes on a former Green Belt site east of Fulwood Drive in Morecambe.  

The homes will be mix of one-, two-, three-, four-, and five-bedroom houses and apartments. 

The site is designated as key urban landscape and open countryside in Lancaster City Council’s local plan. Prior to the plan’s adoption in 2020, the site had been allocated as Green Belt. 

Oakmere had originally wanted to build 140 homes on the plot, however, this was revised downwards following discussions with the city council. 

Ward councillor, Roger Dennison is among the 157 objectors to the scheme. 

Dennison has cited flood risk, highways impact, and noise from the nearby railway line among his concerns, stating that the site is “not designated for housing”. 

Lancaster City Council’s planning officers concede that the proposal, if granted “would represent a departure from the local plan”. 

Nevertheless, the project is recommended for approval when the city council’s planning committee meets next Monday. 

A report on the project states that “given the significant undersupply of housing within the district, it is considered that the benefits of the proposal do outweigh the harm.” 

To learn more about the project, search for reference number 21/01341/OUT on Lancaster City Council’s planning portal. 

Oakmere is also seeking outline approval to build 23 houses on a 2.4-acre plot east of Arkholme Methodist Church in the village of the same name. 

An earlier full application for the same number of homes was refused last year. 

At next week’s meeting, the latest application is recommended for approval, due to “the significant undersupply of housing within the district”, according to an officer report. 

To learn more about the project, search for reference number 22/01463/OUT on Lancaster City Council’s planning portal. 

UPDATE 28 April 2023: Oakmere’s 129-home application was deferred, while its 23-home pitch was approved.

Your Comments

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Oh dear, poor Morecambe. There is no shortage of housing in Morecambe. Look at the number of empty houses in the centre of Morecambe. Renovation is badly needed. Restore, renovate and save the green belt. Turn Morecambe into a vibrant place to visit instead of a dreary slum

By Anonymous

“would represent a departure from the local plan”. Why depart from the plan? I would appreciate a full, sensible explanation. Plenty of housing in Morecambe, just needs the investment from a council that cares.

By Mik Kelly

The council over estimated the number of houses needed in the district and cannot build the number of houses it said it would in the local plan. Now there is a substantial short fall and speculative developments are succeeding in getting permission simply because the Council is under pressure from central government and is so desperate to that these schemes will pass however contentious and controversial they are. Council officials are letting down the district as they are all over the country because of their folly. Basically these developments are being forced on communities.

By Bill

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