Plans to build new council homes on the site of the former Skerton High School in Lancaster are set to get the green light.
Lancaster City Council has put forward a scheme for 135 new homes as part of its long-term ambition to provide more affordable housing for its communities.
The council’s Planning Regulatory Committee meet on December 16, with the scheme recommended for approval, subject to conditions.
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Planning permission to be sought for new council homes on Skerton High site
Subject to securing planning permission, the design proposals reimagine the former school site in a boldly presented scheme of modern apartments and housing that reflect the heritage of the area.
At the heart of the proposals are two sets of new apartments, at the centre of which is a large square providing shared amenity space to encourage a sense of community and to provide a space where residents can meet and socialise.
The central square is complemented by a lawn to provide a place for people to gather with cafe style seating around the edge, with an additional community area on the ground floor of one of the apartment buildings providing an indoor space.
Behind the apartment blocks will be three friendly terraces of two, three, and four bedroom houses, with reduced traffic flow and play space for children. All of the buildings have been designed to create highly insulated homes to keep the amount of energy required to heat them to a minimum.
Solar panels on all of the flat and south facing roofs will allow renewable energy to be generated on site.
Additional facilities provided as part of the proposals include children’s play facilities and two new football pitches, complete with changing facilities for players and officials.
The two rows of cherry trees that line the entrance way and frame the playing fields at the front of the site will be retained as part of the proposals.
Parking provision is proposed on-street or within a parking court on the site. Four parking bays would also serve the adjacent Chadwick High School. Cycle and mobility scooter parking forms part of the overall parking allocation.
110 further trees are proposed to be planted on the site.
The scheme is part of Lancaster City Council's plans to regenerate the Mainway estate in Skerton.
Lancaster City Council planning committee gave permission for the school to be demolished, in December 2023.
Skerton High closed in 2014 after being deemed surplus to requirements by Lancashire County Council due to dwindling pupil numbers.
The city council bought the building in 2023.
The meeting to decide whether to grant permission takes place at 10:30am at Morecambe Town Hall, and is open to the public.
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