Planning Scrutiny Group

Lancaster Civic Vision is a statutory consultee on planning applications for Listed Buildings and some parts of a Conservation Area submitted to Lancaster City Council.

Additionally, it is the practice of the Planning Scrutiny Group to trawl through the weekly list of planning applications and respond to anything that causes concern. Our responses in these circumstances are sent as members of the public entitled to comment on any planning application.

On occasions the Group is invited by the Planning Department to send a representative to a Pre Planning Application session. This can prove a hugely beneficial opportunity for the LCV representative to input ideas and principles before the planning proposal and application takes final shape. The actual content of the meeting is confidential.

The Planning Scrutiny Group is made up of a proportion of members of the Civic Society..

After discussion among the group, comments and recommendations are made to the Planning Department and these are publicly available on the relevant web page. (lancaster.gov.uk/planning/view-applications-and-decisions).

The Group also engages with the Planning Officers on wider issues of concern e.g. the perceived over-supply of student accommodation and the consequent adverse effects on certain neighbourhoods. The need for adequate provision of affordable housing is an on-going concern.

It is recognised that the powers of local authorities substantially to influence the behaviour of major  developers are limited – and are likely to become even more severely constrained if government legislation, now under consideration, is enacted.

Through the efforts of this Group Lancaster Civic Vision seeks to protect and enhance the existing townscape of our fine city and to try and ensure that developers, architects, builders and planners remain true to the unique nature of the City and its surrounding landscape.

The most recent reports are presented below:

Planning Scrutiny Group February 2024 Report

  • 23/01494/FUL  2 West Road Objection
  • 24/00158/FUL 24/00159/LB Lancaster Castle – Partial demolition of curtain wall – Support

Planning Scrutiny Group January 2024 Report

  • 23/01356/LB | Listed building application for the retention of a performance area stage | John O Gaunt – Support
  • 23/01412/FUL YMCA  Fleet Square – Objection
  • 23/01384/OUT  Land off Powderhouse Lane – Objection

Planning Scrutiny Group December 2023 Report

  • 23/01293/OUT  110 Quarry Road/36 Dumbarton Road  (ex Moorlands Hotel) – Objection
  • 23/00793/FUL Oddfellows Hall. 5 – 11 Brock Street – Support
  • 23/01114/FUL Heaton Hall. Morecambe Road – Support

Planning Scrutiny Group November 2023 Report

  • 23/01193/LB 23/01190/FUL St Michael’s House Parkgate Drive Support  
  • 23/01209/PAD Skerton School Demolition – Objection
  • 23/01221/LB Kings Lee Chapel, Ellel Grange, Lancaster Support 
  • 23/01142/OUT Parkfield Garage site, Bowerham – Object  
  • 23/01334/FUL Stone Row Head Support
  • 23/01216/FUL Land next to the Bowerham Hotel Support with reservations
  • 23/01075/FUL 23 Sun Street – Support
  • 23/ 01659/FUL 1 Damside Street – Support with reservations

Planning Scrutiny Group October 2023 Report

  • 23/01132/PLDC  24 Dallas RoadSupport
  • 19/00438/FUL Marsh Lane, Cockerham – Objection

Planning Scrutiny Group September 2023 Report

  • 23/00793/FUL  5 11 Brock StreetSupport in principle – with proviso
  • 23/00888/LB Derby Home, Pathfinders’ Drive – Support
  • 23/01062/CU 29 Balmoral Road Morecambe – Objection
  • 23/01040/LB Lancaster Railway Station – Support
  • 23/00865/FUL Ripley St Thomas School Fencing – Objection

Planning Scrutiny Group August 2023 Addendum

  • 20/00895/FUL  1 Bulk Road – Objection

Planning Scrutiny Group Report August 2023

  • 23/00802/REM Scotforth Road Housing – Support with reservations
  • 23/00918/HLDC The Tower, Thurland Castle – Support
  • 23/00879/LB  Mill Hall Replacement windows – Reservations
  • 23/00945/LB  West Lodge, Quernmore Road – Support

Planning Scrutiny Group Report July 2023

  • 23/00729/LB  2, Main Street, Overton – Support
  • Mill Hall 22/00879/FUL & 22/00880/LBAppeal Reference: 23/00012/REFLB – Conditional Support
  • Lancashire 23/00019/LBENF former Alexander Hotel – Appeal against enforcement notice for the removal of first and second floor windows – Objection
  • 23/00571/FUL St George’s Works Pump House – Support with reservations

Planning Scrutiny Group Report June 2023

  • 23/00623/FUL  Lancaster Castle Workshops – Support

Planning Scrutiny Group Report May 2023

  • 23/00324/FUL Grab Lane Housing – Support with reservations
  • 23/00436/FUL  1 Stonewell – Support

Planning Scrutiny Group Report April 2023

  • 263 Marine Road Central  23/00177/FUL Support
  • 20/00895/FUL  1 Bulk Road – Objection

Planning Scrutiny Group report March 2023

  • 19 – 21 New Street  22/01275/FUL & 22/01276/LB – Support
  • Giant Axe Field   23/00239/FUL &  23/00240/ADV – Objection
  • Oatlands Farm 23/00226/PAD – Objection
  • 23/00283/FUL Ashton Road Lancaster Lancashire – Objection
  • 263 Marine Road Central  23/00177/FUL – Support

Planning Scrutiny Group report 28th February 2023

  • 22/00885/OUT Land North of Ashford House, Ashton Road, Lancaster – Objection
  • 23/00064/OUT  Newlands Road Housing – Objection
  • 23/00098/LB   18 – 20 Sun Street – Support

Planning Scrutiny Group report 26th January 2023

  • Aldi Scotforth 21/00987/FUL – Qualified support
  • Mill Hall   22/00879/FUL & 22/00880/LB – Objection
  • Mill Hall   22/00879/FUL & 22/00880/LB – Objection
  • 13 – 15 Sun Street.  22/01485/FUL  &  22/01476/LB – Support

Planning Scrutiny Group report 29th December 2022

  • 22/01400/FUL 10 and 12 Damside Street – Support

Planning Scrutiny Group report 28th November 2022

  • 1-1-RB 64 Aldcliffe Hall Drive, Lancaster – Objection
  • 22/00753/FUL  Westbank Stables, Greaves Park – Support
  • 22/01374/FUL Cunninghams, Jewellers – Support

Planning Scrutiny Group report – 2nd November 2022

  • Lancaster Castle – Keep 22/01212/FUL and 22/01213/LB – Support
  • Lancaster Quaker Meeting House 22/01281/LB – Support

Planning Scrutiny Group report – 3rd October 2022

  • 22/00332/FUL Amendments to Bulk Road and Parliament Street – Object
  • 22/01040/LB Workshops Building at Lancaster Castle – Support
  • 22/01027/FUL and 22/01026/FUL Lancaster on Ice 2022 – Support

Planning Scrutiny Group report – 1st September 2022

  • 22/00894/FUL Wetherspoons Spring Garden Street – Objection
  • 22/00946/AD   Site of Former Filter House, Scotforth Road – Strong Objection
  • 2200666/LB Derby Home, Pathfinders Drive – Support
  • 22/00551/FUL Bowerham Hotel – Objection
  • 22/00873/FUL 3 – 5 Dalton Road – Objection
  • 22/00050/FUL and 22/00031/LB St Michaels Church – Objection
  • 19/01135/OUT    Land North of Bailrigg Lane – Objection

Planning Scrutiny Group report – 1st August 2022

  • 22/00666/LB Derby Home, Pathfinders Drive – Support
  • 22/00050/FUL and 22/00031/LB St Michaels Church – Objection
  • 22/00873/FUL 3 – 5 Dalton Road – Objection
  • 22/00551/FUL Bowerham Hotel – Objection
  • 19/01135/OUT Land North of Bailrigg Lane – Objection

Planning Scrutiny Group report – 1st July 2022

  • 19/01135/OUT  Land North of Bailrigg Lane – Objection
  • 21/00648/FUL New Quay Road, Lancaster – Strong objection

Planning Scrutiny Group report – 19th June 2022

  • 22/00332/FUL  Bulk Road and Parliament Street – Strong objection
  • 22/00621/LB 2 New Street Lancaster – Support
  • 22/00551/FUL  Bowerham Hotel – Objection
  • 22/00756/FUL 14 New Street – Support

Planning Scrutiny Group report – 28th April 2022

  • 22/00346/EIR Bulk Road and Parliament Street – Objection

Planning Scrutiny Group report – 9th March 2022

  • 21/01250/FUL  3 – 5 Dalton Road – Objection
  • 21/01588/LB  Sunderland Point Heritage Centre – Support
  • 22/00346/EIR  Bulk Road and Parliament Street – Objection

Planning Scrutiny Group report – 11th February 2022

  • 21/00987/FUL Aldi, Scotforth – Objection
  • 21/01528/FUL  Music Co-op, Lodge Street – Support
  • 22/00029/REM  Cockerham housing – Reservation
  • 21/01186/FUL  South Lodge, Greaves Park – Support
  • 22/00048/FUL & 22/00036/LB   Grand Theatre – Support
  • 21/00536/FUL Parkfield Garage, Bowerham – Refusal of Planning Permission

Planning Scrutiny Group report – 19th January 2022

  • 21/00007/FUL Li’le Tool Shop, 45 North Road – Strong Objection
  • 21/01151/LB  and 21/01152/FUL Church Street and New Street – Objection
  • 21/01527/PAD  Ridge Lea – Strong Objection
  • 21/01591  No. 1 China Street – Support with Reservations

Planning Scrutiny Group Report – 10th December 2021

  • 21/01463/LB Lancaster Railway Station – Objection
  • 21/01295/FUL Hawthorne House, Bolton-leSands – Objection
  • 20/00700/LB  108 St Leonard’s Gate – Objection

Planning Scrutiny Group Report – 23rd November 2021

  • 21/00489/FUL & 21/00490/LB   Mill Hall – Support with reservations
  • 21/01186/FUL, South Lodge, Greaves Park – Objection
  • 21/01273/FUL & 21/01274/LB  14 New Street – Support
  • 21/01170/FUL 10 Slip Inn Lane – Objection

Planning Scrutiny Group Report – 25th October 2021

  • 21/01008/FUL  Quernmore Road HousingObjection
  • 20/00895/FUL   1 Bulk Road – Support but with reservations
  • 21/01113/FUL   Eden NorthFully supported

Planning Scrutiny Group Report – 26 September 2021

  • 21/0946/LB   Platform 3 Lancaster Railway StationComments & Concerns
  • 21/00536/FUL  Parkfield Garage – Objection

Planning Scrutiny Group Report – 27th August 2021

  • 20/01334/FUL – Stone Row Head Farm Objection
  • 21/00722/HYB – West of Slyne Road – Comments
  • 21/00784/FUL – Ashton Road housing – Objection

Lancaster City Council Proposed Mill Race Management

Lancaster Civic Society response to the recent consultation conducted by the City Council over the future of the Mill Race area of the City can be read and downloaded from the below panel:

Planning Scrutiny Group Report – 6th August 2021

Contents:

  • Alexandra Hall 21/00206/FUL & 21/00207/LB – Approval
  • Former Crown Inn St Leonard’s Gate 21/00932/FUL – Approval with reservations
  • The Britannia 21/00469/FUL – Objection 

The full reports may be downloaded or read in the panel below.

Planning Scrutiny Group Report – 21st July 2021

Contents:

  • New Quay Road 21/00648/FUL Objection
  • Westbank Stables, Greaves Park 21/00266/FUL – Objection
  • 2 – 8 King Street 21/00581/LB – Qualified approval

In order to examine the full content of these responses to Lancaster City Council Planning Department you can read in the below panel or by clicking the ‘Download’ button.

Planning Scrutiny Group – Amendment to Lune Industrial Estate Application 4th July 2021

Planning Scrutiny Group Report – 14th June 2021

Contents:

  • 1 Westbourne Road
  • Slyne Road Housing

Download June Report:-

Planning Group reports to the Executive Committee 5th May 2021

Contents:

  • Lancaster Girls’ Grammar School Gates
  • Telephone House
  • The Ring O’ Bells

Download April Report:-

Planning Group reports to the Executive Committee – March 2021

Contents:

  • Ellel Holiday Village
  • Lune Industrial Estate
  • Greaves Park Garage
  • Fenham Carr Lane
  • Salt Ayre Solar Panels
  • Whernside Road

Download March report:-

Planning Group report to the Executive Committee – 21st January 2021

Contents:

  • Land south of playing fields, Trumacar
  • Wheatfield Street Housing

Download Report :-

For further information about the Planning Scrutiny Group please contact James Wilkie, Hon. Secretary – jamesdwilkie@sky.com