Planned changes to an M6 junction could be scrapped in a rethink over controversial plans to remodel an area south of Lancaster.
Highways bosses say proposals to build a new road and reconfigure Junction 33 as part of the South Lancaster to M6 Road Scheme now need to change.
Lancashire County Council officers now want the proposed new link road to connect to the A6 roundabout and bridge over the West Coast main railway line, scrapping plans for new northbound slip roads at Junction 33 south of Lancaster.
The road would then continue along the western boundary of the M6 connecting with Hazelrigg Lane.
Here is a map showing the proposed new road (in gold).
A planned new Park and Ride facility would also be moved further east along Hazelrigg Lane, closer to the motorway, to be served by a new highway access junction on the link road for all vehicles and a dedicated bus only access route.
This would have the capacity for around 500 vehicles.
The bus service would run between the Park and Ride and Lancaster city centre via the A6 and a proposed new Bailrigg Garden Village.
A county council report said: "The Park and Ride would alleviate the traffic that is experienced in Lancaster city centre by providing a sustainable transport route for residents of Bailrigg Garden Village, the local villages of Ellel and Galgate, university students and commuters."
The overall plan could see at least 3,500 new homes built south of Lancaster - with a figure of up to 9,185 having also been quoted - as well as the road and transport changes.
There has been opposition to the scheme from residents, including calls for a complete rethink of the plans due to rising costs of building materials and other changes in economic circumstances since the project was first mooted.
Related Story: Pressure mounts for rethink on controversial South Lancaster homes and roads plan - Beyond Radio
The proposed changes have come about after environmental surveys and investigations in 2022 showed that the woodland beside the M6 has "ancient woodland properties".
The changes have been asked for to avoid impact on the ancient woodland.
Lancashire County Council cabinet will be asked to approve the changes at a meeting on February 2.
There will then be a 'pre-application' public consultation on this altered scheme before a planning application is submitted later this year.
The road and housing scheme is a partnership between the county council and Lancaster City Council.
The original plan, which was approved by both councils in 2021, was to provide a link road along the western boundary of the M6 motorway between the motorway and Ellel and Galgate, joining with Hazelrigg Lane on the Galgate/university side of the motorway.
The route would have included the improvement of Hazelrigg Lane to approach the Bailrigg Garden Village via the A6 junction with an underpass under the West Coast Main Line railway.
It was also to include the reconfiguration of Junction 33 - closing the southbound 'off' slipway and the northbound 'on' slipway and relocating the slipways to a location south east of Lancaster University, terminating at Hazelrigg Lane.
THE HISTORY OF THE SOUTH LANCASTER GROWTH CATALYST SCHEME
The controversy over new housing and road building south of Lancaster has been going on for several years.
In 2017, residents protested against a planned 'Bailrigg Garden Village' which proposed between 3,000 and 5,000 new homes.
In 2019 Lancashire County Council put in a bid for cash from the government's Housing Infrastructure Fund (HIF), supported by the city council.
Then in 2020, the city council adopted its 'Local Plan' for housing development, which identified several possible areas for new homes in the Lancaster and Morecambe district, including at least 3,500 in South Lancaster.
A reconfiguration of the M6 Junction 33, a major road building scheme to connect the M6 and A6 to the new housing area, and create an underpass under the West Coast Mainline, was agreed by the county council in 2021.
In August 2021, Lancaster City Council agreed to support an offer of £140,000 from the Government HIF and enter into a partnership with the county to deliver the project, although councillors were divided in the vote.
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