Plans for the controversial Bailrigg Garden Village in south Lancaster took a step forward last week, after Lancashire County Council gave approval for the route of the spine road through the site.
The council considers approval for the road, taking forward the South Lancaster to M6 Road Scheme, as a key stage in the development of the Bailrigg Village as it identifies the route for the road which unlocks sites for new homes.
The entire project is, however, the subject of continued opposition, Co-ordinated by CLOUD (Citizens of Lancaster Opposed to Unnecessary Development), who question whether the Local plan in its current form is either sound or justified.
At a Council cabinet meeting last week (Thursday 7th October), councillors approved the overall spine road layout, which will now be the subject of surveys and engineering assessments. This will help to inform the eventual layout and enable detailed plans to be drawn up.
The preferred location for a new Park & Ride site, off Hazelrigg Lane, just south of Lancaster University, was also on the agenda for the Cabinet meeting, as well as the approval to use compulsory purchase powers to acquire the necessary land for the new south Lancaster to M6 Link Road.
All items were approved and a route selected for consideration, creating a new connection the M6 with the A6 and A588.
In presenting the report, it was noted that a number of surveys had been carried out on a wide area to determine the route to use. However, to progress the scheme, further surveys and assessments would need to be carried out on the proposed route. A detailed list of the surveys to be carried out will be circulated to the Cabinet following the meeting.
These proposals are part of major plans to reduce Lancaster city centre traffic, create new access between the M6 and the city, reduce congestion through Galgate and unlock sites for new homes at the proposed Bailrigg Garden Village.
The aim of the new Park & Ride will be to give people more sustainable transport options if they’re going to and from the city centre.
Speaking before the meeting, County Councillor Charlie Edwards, Cabinet member for highways and transport, said: “I am determined that we tackle the existing problems with congestion and pollution, both in the city and in Galgate.
“This development will be truly successful if there is adequate investment in the roads, flooding and education infrastructure in South Lancaster.
“The spine road is an important part of this new infrastructure, as it allows for a connection between the A6 and the A588 that we have never enjoyed before. It will link to the remodelled Junction 33 and remove traffic from Galgate, which will be a massive benefit to those who live in the village.”
Negotiations are already starting to take place with the relevant landowners an detailed work on the proposals and preparation of planning applications is already underway. The planning application process will provide opportunities for people to give their views.
The proposals agreed are part of the wider proposals being developed for Lancaster, which also include a reconfiguration of M6 junction 33, to reduce traffic through Galgate.
Bus priority systems and changes to the one-way system through the city centre to improve bus reliability and reduce journey times are also being developed, as is a new cycle ‘superhighway’, linking the city centre with the university, the Health Innovation Campus and the South Lancaster Strategic Growth Area.
The county council is already working with Lancaster City Council and other partners to develop and deliver these proposed major transport improvements, including in and around the city centre. This includes investment to prioritise buses, cycling and walking to make these much more attractive travel options in future.
More details will be announced for each of these schemes as plans progress.
“We want to help Lancaster district to grow by helping people to get around, reducing congestion and promoting sustainable travel options,” said County Councillor Aidy Riggott, Cabinet member for economic development and growth, prior to the meeting. “This especially benefits people getting to and from work, and local businesses especially those in the city centre.
“By creating the right infrastructure, we’re also unlocking areas for new homes in south Lancaster. These new communities provide a growing workforce, help to meet local housing needs and be accessible by public transport and active travel.”
This programme of improvements is funded through the South Lancaster Growth Catalyst Programme, with a combination of county and city council contributions, developer contributions, and a grant from Homes England’s Housing Infrastructure Fund.
What is Bailrigg Garden Village?
In July 2020, Lancaster City Council adopted a new Local Plan for the district, which includes the designation of for a new settlement known as Bailrigg Garden Village, south of Lancaster. The City Council has appointed architects JTP to engage with the local community and prepare a detailed masterplan for Bailrigg Garden Village and a design code for future development.
Bailrgg Garden Village is being planned as a distinct community just south of Lancaster, with several thousand homes to meet all needs and incomes, and opportunities for business creation and growth.
The Council says it will fit well into the countryside and heritage assets, including the canal, and make these areas better for wildlife and for people to enjoy through innovative environmental improvement and sustainable water management.
Sustainability Concerns
Numerous local organisations, including North Lancashire Green Party and Lancaster Civic Society, have raised concerns about the project.
CLOUD (Citizens of Lancaster Opposed to Unnecessary Development), an umbrella group Co-ordinating opposition to the scheme, are concerned, amongst other things, that the development is unsustainable and will aggravate flooding. They question whether the Local plan in its current form is either sound or justified.
Local cycling campaign group Dynamo remains unimpressed by what it describes as “nebulous” references to sustainable transport in the Highways and Transport section of the Environmental Impact Assessment.
“Basically, this private development of up to 700 homes is using the promise of yet-to-be-awarded funds from central government plus the unpublished plans/pipe dreams of Lancashire County Council for sustainable transport to make a tidy profit for themselves,” they feel.
“Looking at section 8 of the National Planning Policy Framework (July 2021), it is hard to see how this development will achieve a “net gain” towards a “low carbon economy”. Exactly the opposite.”
• The agenda and minutes of the Lancashire County Council Cabinet meeting are here, including a recording of the meeting
• View the meeting video directly here
• Details of the Bailrigg Garden Village project are online at www.bailrigggardenvillage.co.uk
This website forms the hub for the community engagement over the coming months. The Council is also communicating with regular newsletters hand delivered to the neighbouring community to seek views and ideas and communicate the emerging proposals for the Garden Village
• CLOUD (Citizens of Lancaster Opposed to Unnecessary Development) | Facebook
CLOUD was formally constituted in October 2017 to campaign against the proposal to build 3,500 houses as Bailrigg garden village between Scotforth and Galgate and other unnecessary and unsustainable housing in Lancaster.
A management team is supported by a group of experts in Transport planning, air quality and planning law.
CLOUD is a corporate member of CPRE and affiliated to the Galgate Flood Action Group. They are campaigning for a Local Plan which is based on robust evidence, is sustainable, addresses increased flood risk, congestion, air quality and is realistically costed. They question whether the Local plan in its current form is either sound or justified.