Scores of residents oppose Galgate ‘green buffer’ housing scheme

Monday, 20 June 2022 09:16

The Lancaster MP is among scores of people opposing a housing scheme on land at Galgate.

Wain Homes has submitted an application to build 115 properties, with associated access and landscaping, on land at Highland Brow, behind Meadow Park. The land concerned is where the so called ‘green buffer’ is, between Galgate village and the edge of the proposed Bailrigg Garden Village, once that development is completed.

The application will be heard by Lancaster City Council at a later date and is currently out for consultation. The plans have been met with objections from dozens of residents.

Cat Smith has written to Mark Cassidy, the Council’s planning manager, to outline concerns surrounding flooding, traffic, and the loss of the ‘green buffer’.

Ms Smith states: ‘’Residents regularly see the proposed site for housing covered with water and there is little evidence in the planning application that this has been taken into account. For example, it is proposed that the current sewer system be used to cater for these 115 homes. This is despite it being known the existing sewer network on Meadow Park is overtaxed and struggles with high levels of discharge.

‘’Likewise, for over a year now I have been working with local residents to improve road safety along Highland Brow and Salford Road. There are already serious safety issues with speeding as vehicles come over the brow of the hill on Highland Brow. For the developer to therefore propose access for 115 homes via a T-junction at the top of the hill seems only to serve to worsen the problem.

‘’Additionally, during the construction process I am concerned that more traffic will be added to already congested roads. Furthermore, I believe that the existing problem of large vehicles speeding down Salford Road and under the Viaduct will only get worse, thus increasing the chances of a serious accident involving pedestrians and other road users.

‘’To ensure Galgate maintains its distinct identity as a village separated from the suburbs of Lancaster and an important piece of biodiversity is not lost, it is vital that this application is rejected.’’

Documents submitted by Emery Planning on behalf of the developer say that concerns about separation have been addressed in the plans, and they recognise retaining Galgate’s identity is a key theme to residents who live nearby.

They add that the development has been designed specifically so that Galgate remains a separate settlement and a Green Buffer between Galgate and Bailrigg Garden Village would remain.

The application further states: ‘’The site is located on a greenfield site which is designated within SG1: Lancaster South Broad Area of Growth for development. Therefore, the site has been specifically identified as a suitable location for development.

‘’The delivery of open market housing would assist in boosting the supply of housing in Lancaster which only has a 2.6 year supply which is a substantial shortfall.

‘’The proposal would deliver 30% affordable housing which accords with the development plan and would assist in addressing the very significant and persistent shortfall in affordable housing delivery.

‘’The development would be in an accessible location which can accommodate the development scheme socially, economically and environmentally, (and) would provide open space to meet the needs of existing and proposed residents; the development would provide a range of social and economic benefits, including construction jobs and increase spending for local services and facilities.’’

‘’In the context of this range of substantial benefits, these would not be outweighed by the limited adverse harm from developing a greenfield site.

‘’Therefore, the proposal would have no adverse impacts that would significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits of the development and…planning permission should be granted for the proposed development.’’

You can have your say by using the reference number 22/00342/FUL here