New ‘knowledge and research campus’ at Lancaster University set for green light
Plans for a new knowledge and research centre at Lancaster University are set to be approved next week.
Lancaster University wants to develop a new ‘knowledge and research innovation campus’ on land west of Health Innovation One in Sir John Fisher Drive, close to the main university campus.
The land already has an existing office/research building constructed around 2020 through earlier consents at the site for the wider health innovation campus.
The new proposal seeks to deliver up to 25,000 square metres of floorspace to be used for research and development and similar uses, with a maximum of 384 car parking spaces.
The allocation of this site is envisaged to deliver regionally important employment development to generate in the region of 2,000 jobs within the knowledge-based industries, with the close links and proximity to Lancaster University being a key driver for the location.
Scotforth Parish Council and Bailrigg Village Residents’ Association have both objected to the scheme, while Lancaster Civic Vision has welcomed the plans, and the employment opportunities which it could create.
Council officers have recommended that permission be granted when the planning committee meets on Monday December 15.
They say: “The proposal has the potential to deliver regionally important employment development, working symbiotically with the adjacent Lancaster University to deliver substantial economic and social benefits of such employment provision.”
"On the basis of the outline submission and information available at this stage, the moderate visual and tree impacts are considered to be outweighed by the substantial economic and social benefits the development will deliver.”
It is expected that the appearance, landscaping and layout would be befitting of such a knowledge/research development.