Addressing local concerns to create 78 new family homes in Lancaster

What we did

PWA Planning first engaged with Lancaster City Council on behalf of our client in 2016 but the development was considered premature at the time due to the site’s location within the Green Belt.

Following pre-application discussions about a potential development at the site, PWA Planning promoted the site on behalf of Oakmere Homes through the emerging Local Plan and ensured it was removed from the Green Belt as part of the Local Planning Authority’s Green Belt Review freeing it up for a potential housing development.

Following removal from the Green Belt, extensive pre-application discussions took place with the Local Planning Authority, ensuring that when the residential development was submitted to planning, it resulted in a recommendation for approval from the Council’s planning officers.

Unfortunately the plans were initially refused by the Council’s councillors on the basis that the scheme failed to constitute high quality design and would not be in-keeping with the character of the site and its surroundings.

Subsequently we were instructed to lodge an appeal against the decision. As part of the appeal hearing PWA Planning addressed the issues put forward by the Council, demonstrating how the scheme would contribute economic benefits in its construction phase, provide safe vehicular and pedestrian access, and make effective use of a site in an urban focussed area.

PWA Planning also involved expert consultants in landscape and ecology to deal with concerns raised by the local community and councillors. Subsequently, the Inspector agreed with the case presented by PWA Planning, and the appeal was granted planning permission.

Since the positive determination of the appeal, PWA Planning have continued to act on behalf of Oakmere Homes in relation to discharging relevant planning conditions attached to the planning approval, along with making Non-Material Amendments to the decision in order to allow our client to make a successful and quick start onsite.

What our client said

“We’ve been engaged in a long dialogue with Lancaster City Council and were delighted when PWA helped us to finally gain approval for Watery Lane. Their recommendations come from a deep-rooted understanding of the planning process and the approval is a testament to the hard work and level of experience PWA brought to the table.”

Mark Brown, Oakmere Homes