Objection to scoping opinion for 700 homes in south Lancaster

Now that Lancaster City Council has approved the building of up to 9,000 new homes between south Lancaster and Lancaster University, we expect to see plenty of planning applications.

At present there is a scoping opinion (i.e. very early stages) for 700 homes on the large area of green fields south of Scotforth Cemetery, east of Lancaster canal, west of the railway line and all the way down to Burrow Beck. The reference number is 21/01129/EIO.

Dynamo has objected as follows:

Dynamo acknowledges that this is only an initial scoping exercise, but we object strongly on the grounds of the very nebulous references to sustainable transport in the Highways and Transport section of the Environmental Impact Assessment.

Basically, this private development of up to 700 homes is using the promise of yet-to-be-awarded funds from central government PLUS the unpublished plans/pipe dreams of Lancashire County Council for sustainable transport to make a tidy profit for themselves. 

Looking at section 8 of the National Planning Policy Framework (July 2021), it is hard to see how this development will achieve a “net gain” towards a “low carbon economy”.  Exactly the opposite.

Section 14.1.36 of the EIA states:

“The development will also generate increased public transport, pedestrian and cycle trips. As a result, high quality, safe and convenient walking and cycling routes permeating through the development site will be required as will links to the existing network of pedestrian and cycle routes. Enhanced public transport services will also need to be developed.”

Dynamo would not disagree.  But where are these plans?  Neither the County Council nor the City Council nor the developer nor central government have shown the public that there are any such plans.

With apologies for sounding cynical, but it is almost as if this developer is trying to get something under way before Lancaster City Council’s Climate Emergency Review of the Local Plan is published.