Work is continuing on a student flats development near Lancaster train station after new plans were given the green light.
The new accommodation on Wheatfield Street will include 24 student flats housed in two buildings - to replace the former J Wedlake & Son engineering works.
A warehouse has been knocked down to make way for the new development and Lancaster City Council granted part retrospective planning permission for this on Monday.
The council had already granted planning permission in October 2021 and again in March 2023 for the warehouse to be converted into student accommodation.
But the developer said the old warehouse was in a poor state of repairs and so had to be demolished.
"The developer has stated that as work progressed it became evident that the warehouse building was in a poor overall structural condition to such an extent that it would not be possible to retain and change its use into the approved accommodation," said a council report.
"Full demolition of the structure was then undertaken without the benefit of planning permission and at the time of writing this report, steel framing for the replacement building erected on site along with a retaining structure around the perimeter of the site."
Council planning officers recommended that part retrospective planning permission should be granted to demolish the warehouse and build the new properties.
The development will include 16 studio flats in a four-storey building and eight studio flats in a three-storey building, linked by a single-storey building.
Our photo shows workmen at the site on Tuesday, January 9.
"Prior to works commencing on site, the development site and building were in a deteriorated condition and detracted from the character and appearance of the locality and Conservation Area," continued the report.
"Whilst consent has previously been granted for the change of use of the warehouse building, as works progressed, it became clear to the developer that the building was in poorer structural condition than first thought. Unfortunately, this has led to the developer demolishing the building without the benefit of planning permission and soon after a steel frame erected in advance of the construction of a new building.
"The loss of the warehouse building is regrettable.
"(But) the redevelopment of the site and construction of a new building to provide a frontage to Wheatfield Street, subject to the use of high-quality materials and finishes, will improve the overall visual appearance in the locality and in views from further afield.
"The change of use of the site and removal of industrial activities in favour of a residential use will also provide an improved relationship with the surrounding residential properties."
The council's planning regulatory committee gave the plans the green light at a meeting at Morecambe Town Hall on Monday.
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