Controversial plans for 200 homes on fields near Lancaster given go-ahead after appeal
Controversial plans to build up to 200 houses on fields between Slyne and Bolton-le-Sands has been given the green light after an appeal by the developers was upheld.
A government planning inspector has granted planning permission for the scheme on land west of the A6 at Slyne Road after it was previously refused by Lancaster city councillors – against officers’ advice.
Government inspector Carla Livingstone said in her report that the plans by Wrenman Strategic Land for new homes at Lapwing Fields “did not represent inappropriate development in the Green Belt”.
"We are extremely disappointed that the Planning Inspector has allowed the appeal for development at Lapwing Fields,” said spokesperson Lesley Bryan on the Greenbelt Action Group (Slyne with Hest and Bolton le Sands) Facebook group.
"This is a deeply disappointing outcome for everyone who has worked so hard to protect these fields and the important green gap between Bolton-le-Sands and Slyne-with-Hest.
"More than 500 objections were submitted to the original planning application, thousands of local people signed our petition, and many residents have spent months making their concerns known about the loss of green belt, landscape and wildlife habitat, the impact on local infrastructure and the erosion of the separation between our communities.
"We want to thank every single person who supported the campaign – those who wrote objections, signed the petition, donated, attended meetings, shared our posts, displayed banners and simply stood with us in trying to protect this land.
"Although this decision is a major setback, we are not going to pretend that the concerns raised by the community have simply disappeared. We will carefully study the Inspector’s decision and the conditions attached to any permission, and we will consider what options remain available to us.
"This campaign has always been about much more than one planning application. It has been about making sure that local people have a voice in what happens to the countryside around our villages.
"Thank you for standing with Lapwing Fields.
"We will update you once we have had time to properly consider the decision and understand what happens next."
The planning inspector's report said: "The appeal is allowed and planning permission is granted for outline permission for the erection of up to 200 dwellings, including affordable housing, public open space, landscaping, and sustainable urban drainage system and associated works.
"The main issue is whether the proposal would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt having regard to the National Planning Policy Framework and relevant development plan policies with particular reference to whether the appeal site represents grey belt land and meets the Golden Rules.
"I have given careful consideration to all other matters raised including from Bolton-le-Sands Parish Council, Slyne-with-Hest Parish Council and other local residents and interested parties. I also note a petition completed in objection to the development with over 2,000 signatures.
"In order to comply with the (government planning policy) Golden Rules, the proposal must include an affordable housing contribution which is 15 percentage points above the highest existing affordable housing requirement which would otherwise apply to the development."
The inspector added that policy sets an affordable housing target of 30 per cent, and this scheme would include 45 per cent.