Campaigners urge housing developer Wrenman Homes 'to find another field' for 200 homes plan in Lancaster
Campaigners are anxiously awaiting a decision this month on plans for a development on green belt land in Bolton-le-Sands.
Thousands have signed petitions and more than 250 people turned up to a parish council meeting against Wrenman Homes’ plan for 200 homes on land to the west of Slyne Road.
The campaigners want to protect the wildlife, prevent pressure on local schools and protect the land as it’s renowned for flooding and is a burial site for foot and mouth.
A decision is set to be made on the plans at a city council meeting on Monday February 16.
Julie Farrer, chairperson of the campaign, said the developer doesn’t have first hand experience of the impact this development would have.
“They don’t all live around the edges of this and go past it every day to work or when we’re going into Lancaster," she said. “It splits the two habitations of Slyne-with-Hest and Bolton-le-Sands.”
Lesley Bryan, who is also part of the campaign against the development, said: “There’s other places that they could do it which would be more appropriate.
“There are over 800 permanently vacant properties in the district that could be rejuvenated, and they will be in a more sustainable place, which would mean less traffic, less air pollution and save our green fields and farmland really as well.”
The motive of the campaign is not to be against housing, but to keep the remaining three per cent of green belt around Bolton-le-Sands.
Julie said: “That’s the thing, we really value it. Hundreds of people really, really value that particular space.
“Find another field.”
In their planning statement, Wrenman Homes have said the development will provide:
- 90 affordable homes (45%, which is 15% above the current local requirement)
- Active travel links to surrounding roads
- Areas of significant open space
- New walking paths and dog off-the-lead areas.
The scheme demonstrates a strong commitment to meeting housing needs, Wrenman say.
And campaigners are worried that the development may go ahead as the city council aims to meet its target for housing, with a requirement of 12,006 new total dwellings by the end of 2033/2034.
This averages around 522 new dwellings required each year to meet this target.
However, data released in April 2024 has revealed that this hasn’t yet been achieved, with the plan currently being 761 houses behind the target.
The current target is 5,625 and only 4,864 dwelling completions have been made.
However, there has not always been a loss with the financial year 2016/2017 628 houses were completed in comparison to the 400 homes required, 57 per cent more than required.
But other years have been under completed; in 2022/2023 the council fell 41 per cent behind on their housing target.
Lesley said: “We’re not anti-housing, we just want to see housing in the appropriate place, which is beneficial to keep history in the district.”
More on the data can be found at https://www.lancaster.gov.uk/assets/attach/13720/2024-HLMR_.pdf?
Wrenman Homes were approached for comment but did not respond.
Council officers have recommended the plans be approved subject to conditions and completion of a Section 106 agreement.
Anyone interested in the plans can attend the meeting at Morecambe Town Hall from 10.30am on February 16.