Morecambe flats plan recommended for approval despite objections from West End residents

Controversial plans for 42 new one and two-bed apartments in Morecambe go before Lancaster City Council's planning committee later this month.
How the site currently looks.How the site currently looks.
How the site currently looks.

Council officers have recommended the plans for the land off Bold Street be given the go-ahead when they meet on Monday October 12 - despite a petition from local residents against the proposals.

As we first reported in July when the plans were submitted, Manchester based build-to-rent developer Placefirst are behind the scheme.

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The developer has already built or remodelled more than 100 new homes in the West End as part of its West End 1 and West End 2 developments.

The development site in the West End of Morecambe.The development site in the West End of Morecambe.
The development site in the West End of Morecambe.

The new scheme is on brownfield land previously occupied by a series of terraced houses and commercial premises.

The development would result in a three storey building comprising 21 two bed and 21 one bed apartments, with 30 parking spaces and access via Back Winterdyne Terrace.

The new homes would be available for private rent, and would include landscaped areas and bike and bin stores for residents.

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Modern City Architecture & Urbanism, on behalf of Placefirst, said: "The brief by the client was to create a viable residential apartment scheme on a site that has been vacant for a number of years whilst integrating the scheme within the local context and providing a better mix and type of housing offer.

"As per the client's other recently developed sites nearby in Morecambe (West End 1 & 2), the scheme will provide high quality homes for private rent."

Eighteen letters and a petition signed by six residents were submitted objecting on the grounds numerous issues, including a lack of parking spaces and worsening of existing parking problems on Bold Street, vetting of tenants and potential for residents’ anti-social behaviour, loss of light, West End Masterplan seeks to provide family housing, loss of open space, overcrowding in the local area and a strain on local services such as schools and medical facilities.

However, council officers said in their recommendation: "This proposal represents a design solution reached after a long process that balances the masterplan objectives with the site’s economic and physical constraints.

"Despite the original aims of the West End masterplan, circumstances have changed and provision of one and two bed flats is acceptable in current circumstances as meeting an evidenced need."