Local Plan Review Reminder

Newsbrief 110 May 13 2024 Local Plan Review CLOUD Response

Many of you will have received updates from Lancaster City Council regarding the Local Plan review and inviting your opinions on issues that should be raised. This is an important opportunity to get involved in shaping Lancaster. 

The deadline is Friday 17 May 2024.

We strongly recommend responding. Do follow this link to the Lancaster City Council Local Plan Review and comment on the questions asked. 

Below to help you is CLOUD’s full response. You will only have 1000 characters for each question so just choose issues that concern you and put them in as short headings or use your own. 

CLOUD response to Local Plan Review

CLOUD strongly supported the decision, in 2023, to suspend the South Lancaster Growth Catalyst and review the adopted Lancaster Local Plan. We are very keen to play a constructive role in this Local Plan review.

We have been encouraged by the way the current introduction to the Local Plan Consultation has been framed. Navigation of the Local Plan Digital Hub is easy and the content is informative and easy to follow.

What matters or issues should be looked at by the new Local Plan?

1. We are aware of the Climate Emergency Review of the Local Plan and the recent consultation on the Main Modifications of the Planning Inspector’s Report. The withdrawal of the Planning Inspector’s objections to Lancaster City Council’s requirement for developers to build energy efficient, cheap to run homes was a significant shift. It opens the door to significantly raising building standards and integrating Climate Emergency into the Local Plan.

2. The Local Plan should go further than this. The new Local Plan should be one where Climate Emergency is an integral part of the planning process. This means it recognises that new building and infrastructure have embodied carbon emissions which need to be taken into account with every decision made.

3. Housing need numbers should be firmly evidence-based using clearly identified datasets. Land allocation more closely linked to brownfield sites is important. Special consideration should be given to genuine affordability and to social housing.  Account should taken of empty and derelict property with incentives for renovation.

4. Careful addressing of the funding of schools, medical care, flood impact and sewage etc associated with housing. Given the regularity of failures to meet Clause 106 agreements by developers on viability grounds, this is a vital consideration. Labour recruitment for health and education services has been challenging in recent years. 

5. Where new housing is built, access to good public transport and active travel is crucial to 2 (above)

6. Avoiding using biodiversity net gain as an excuse for grubbing out ancient hedges and trees

7. The cumulative impact on sewage systems and flooding should be regularly reviewed, especially in light of the recent dismissal of Wain Homes' Appeal on flooding grounds.

Why are these matters or issues important?

All are interrelated

1. Realistic housing need numbers with land allocation more closely linked to brownfield sites. 

1. Inflated housing need numbers make meeting 5 year land supply challenging. This makes the district subject to opportunistic bids ( and appeals) by developers.

2. A changed attitude to affordability highlighting that decent housing is a human right.

1. A Local Plan where Climate Emergency is an integral part planning process which recognises that new building and infrastructure have embodied carbon emissions which need to be taken into account with every decision made.

Interconnected policy development for housing and transport infrastructure leads to a modal shift in behaviour. - this relates 3 above

4. Biodiversity is supported by the protection of ecosystems rather than always replacing with new planting - which is often away from the site being developed. One of the most vulnerable areas is hedgerows which are home to a wide range of flora and fauna. They act as a source of food and shelter for wildlife and as corridors for mammals, birds, insects and amphibians to move around. Once grubbed out these interrelated communities cannot be quickly replaced and re-established.