Developer reveals plans for 700 new homes and primary school in north Lancaster

The site - currently mostly open fields - stretches east from Barley Cop Lane around a mile across to Kellet Lane, and includes space for employment, a "local centre", and areas of open space.

Taylor Wimpey is leading on the preparation of the Masterplan for the whole site, with the involvement and collaboration from other developers and landowners who control or own land within the site, and stakeholders.

An outline planning application will initially focus on a parcel of land directly north of Beaumont College, to the west of Slyne Road, for up to 100 family homes with a local centre, or up to 65 family homes with an extra care facility (approximately 60 bed spaces) with a local centre.

The local centre could provide a shop, services (e.g. a pharmacy), café and/or community use.

Taylor Wimpey said the type of facilities that will be provided in the local centre will be established through commercial market requirements.

Proposals for the wider site include up to 700 new homes, with access from Slyne Road to the west and east.

The access from the east will link through to Kellet Lane.

The plans also include extensive areas of public open space, a site for a new primary school to the east of Slyne Road - directly north of Woodlands Road on the opposite side of the canal - and two hectares of potential employment land to the east of Green Lane, with access from Halton Road.

Two public footpaths run through the site - one running north from Lancaster Canal via Beaumont Gate Farm to the village of Slyne, and another slightly to the east running north from the canal to Bottomdale Road.

Taylor Wimpey said: "We have carried out technical studies and carefully considered the characteristics of the site to ensure that any future development of the Masterplan Area will respond sensitively to its surroundings and contribute positively to the sustainable growth of Lancaster.

"The northern extents of the Strategic Site will remain as open space to preserve the open nature of the area and a buffer will be created between the Strategic Site and Lancaster Canal.

"The principle of a housing development in this location has already been considered and established through the adoption of the Lancaster Local Plan.

"Whilst the Local Plan policies require the delivery of various supporting infrastructure across the Masterplan Area, they do not require the provision of an extra care facility.

"However, Lancaster City Council has expressed a strong desire to bring forward an extra care facility (incorporating the local centre) at the Application Site.

"Discussions between Taylor Wimpey and Lancaster City Council are ongoing about how this might be achieved, and it is hoped that a delivery mechanism for extra care can be agreed.

"The outline planning application retains the flexibility to allow residential development with a more traditional local centre to come forward on the northern section of the Application Site, should the delivery of extra care not be achieved."

Taylor Wimpey said the development would bring in £12.6m in new spending locally by residents and £1.34m in council tax.

It also said it would create 551 new jobs in the new commercial and retail space, directly and indirectly.

You can see Taylor Wimpey's development proposal HERE.