The Planning Regulatory Committee of Lancaster City Council met on 1 September 2025, and approved plans for a self-storage unit, and a housing development of up to 130 dwellings. Councillors also approved a variation to previously agreed plans for nine dwellings in Hornby, and granted prior approval for the demolition of a former mower storage shed in Morecambe.

Land off Powder House Lane, Lancaster

Councillors approved an outline application for the erection of up to 130 dwellings and associated infrastructure with access and road realignment to part of Slyne Road following a site visit on 21 July 2025. The application was approved subject to conditions and the completion of a Section 106 Agreement¹. Nine councillors voted for the proposal, and six against.

The development, by Wrenman Strategic Land Limited, had been amended during an extended determination period, and reduced from up to 200 dwellings to the current number in response to concerns around flood risk, biodiversity and design.

The site is located on the eastern edge of Torrisholme, and straddles two parishes, Morecambe (Torrisholme Ward) and Slyne with Hest (Bolton & Slyne Ward).

The committee heard that the site was historically located within the North Lancashire Green Belt, but was removed from the Green Belt following a review and the adoption of the Local Plan in 2020. It was subsequently re-designated as Key Urban Landscape (KUL).

The legal agreement includes:

• Provision of policy-compliant affordable housing (DM3 of the DM DPD) to be provided on site in accordance with an Affordable Housing Scheme to be submitted with Reserved Matters²
• Provision of on-site Amenity Greenspace, Equipped Play Area and Young People's Provision based on the Green and Blue Infrastructure Strategy and Design and Access Statement (DAS).
• Off-site Public Open Space Contribution towards athletics facilities, playing pitch improvements and associated facilities at Salt Ayre.
• Setting up of a Management Company.
• Management and Maintenance of all landscaping, unadopted roads, lighting and drainage infrastructure and on-site open space.
• Provision of on-site Biodiversity Net Gain (providing no less than 10%) in accordance with an approved BNG Plan and Landscape and Ecological Creation and Management Plan.
• Highways Contribution not to exceed £4,386.66 per dwelling.
• Travel Plan Contribution of £12,000.

The highways contribution is to be provided across five initiatives:

1. City Centre Gyratory
2. A6 Slyne Road (feeder roads)
3. Local highway network around the M6 J34
4. Lancaster Area Wide Road/Management changes and
5. Morecambe Area Wide Land/Management changes.

Former Builders Merchants Yard, New Quay Road, Lancaster

Councillors approved an application for the erection of self-storage units with associated security building, boundary fencing and creation of access roads/parking at the Former Builders Merchants Yard, New Quay Road, Lancaster. Councillor Mandy Bannon, Cabinet Member for Communities, Well-being and Partnerships, declared an interest as she would be speaking as Ward Councillor and Trustee of the Friends of Freeman's Wood charity against the application, and recused herself from the meeting for the consideration of the item.

Under the scheme of public participation, Councillor Mandy Bannon, and resident and Trustee of LightAware charity Eleanor Levin, spoke against the application, whilst agent Hayley Knight of HK Planning Ltd responded in favour.

The application was approved subject to an amendment to condition 15 to secure details of a scheme to control a dimming profile for the submitted and approved external lighting, and subject to the conditions in the Committee Report, and the satisfactory completion of a Legal Agreement within 3 months of the date of the meeting. Ten councillors voted in favour, one against, and three abstained.

The legal agreement includes:

• £15,000 contribution to off-site highway projects and improvements.
• Agreement to pay costs of monitoring Biodiversity Net Gain.

Land Rear Of Ingleborough View, Station Road, Hornby

Councillors approved an application for the erection of nine dwellings with associated detached garages, formation of a new access and associated estate roads and landscaping at Land Rear Of Ingleborough View, Station Road, Hornby. The application was for a variation of conditions 2-14 and 18 on planning application 21/01370/FUL.

The application was approved subject to the trigger for condition 6 (AIA) being delegated to officers to amend from pre-commencement condition to compliance if the submitted AIA is satisfactory, and subject to an additional condition to secure a scheme for external lighting to safeguard the National Landscape and its dark skies prior to installation of any external lighting, and subject to the conditions in the Committee Report. All 15 councillors voted in favour.

The legal agreement includes:

• Provision of two shared-ownership Affordable Housing units (to be provided on site) in accordance with an Affordable Housing Scheme to be submitted and approved by the Council.
• Provision of on-site Amenity Greenspace.
• Setting up of a Management Company.
• Management and Maintenance of all landscaping, unadopted roads, lighting and drainage infrastructure and on-site open space.
• Securing a public access route for non-motorised walking, wheeling through the site if this links to public access through land immediately adjacent to the site.

Lancaster City Council White Lund Depot, White Lund Road, Morecambe

Councillors approved a prior approval application for the demolition of a former mower storage shed at Lancaster City Council White Lund Depot, White Lund Road, Morecambe. All 15 councillors voted in favour.

Delegated List

The committee noted a schedule of planning applications dealt with under the Scheme of Delegation of Planning Functions to Officers.