LANCASTER LOCAL PLAN - LCT DRAFT CONSULTATION RESPONSE ON BEHALF OF THE

LANCASTER CANAL REGENERATION PARTNERSHIP [LCRP]

PART 1: STRATEGIC POLICIES AND LAND ALLOCATIONS DPD

SECTION 2: A SPATIAL PORTRAIT

Para.2.7- The Lancaster Canal, as the major north-south off road walking and cycling route, is an important strategic resource which provides opportunity to grow tourism, increase leisure opportunities, offer physical and mental health benefits in addition to protecting the heritage and environment of the canal corridor.

SECTION 4: STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES

Para 4.1: SO3

Within Lancaster District there are some 50 listed structures along the canal; Grade II bridges are the greater part but there are aqueducts, culverts, locks and milestones. All of these must have appropriate protection and conservation whenever any development takes place on or near the canal.

SO5

Numerous references are made in the Plan to sustainable transport with walking and cycling making use of the canal towpath. Due regard need to be paid to ensure the safety of families, senior citizens and those with mobility issues at all times. Due consideration must also be given to the essential upgrading of the infrastructure (step-free access points, suitability of styles, adequate width of tow path and durability of the surface) to cater for the increased usage implicit in this proposal.

The concept of a towpath commuting corridor for many thousands of new residential properties is totally at odds with the leisure uses inherent in the new Towpath Trail being developed by our partnership. It is vital to plan strategically in order to mitigate conflict between different users. We are already aware of face-to-face conflict between cyclists and pedestrians within the City boundaries.

SECTION 8: REGENERATION & ECONOMIC GROWTH

Policy SP6 Para 8.21 - Countryside

Tourism is an important contributor to economic growth in the District, and the canal corridor contributes significantly to this. The Council has a long-established membership of the Lancaster Canal Regeneration Partnership, and is currently supporting the development of the Towpath Trail. Funding for work on the first 2.5 miles has been secured [£185k] and design issues are already being considered. Work on the ground is expected to start in autumn of this year. Further funding is already being sought.

SECTION 10: NATURAL AND HISTORIC ENVIRONMENT

Policy SP9 Protecting the Natural Environment

Ten of the individual housing development sites discussed in detail in the Plan have a frontage onto the Lancaster Canal. If all these sites are developed as described then 13 miles of the canal between Galgate and Carnforth will have continuous development on one or both sides. Only two very short gaps are shown - just north of Galgate village and just north of the Bay Gateway A683. The Plan refers to protecting and enhancing the canal’s status as a county Biological Heritage Site, but this would appear to be at risk from the encroachment of this suggested housing development. We would wish to see a requirement that all sites are laid out with green public open space bordering the canal rather than private back gardens.

SECTION 11: Delivering Infrastructure

Para 11.10 See notes on Section 4 SO5, above.

SECTION 12: SOUTH LANCASTER

Policy SG 1 - Bailrigg Garden Village

Environmental Considerations - LCRP welcomes the commitment to ‘ no net loss in value of the BHS.

Where the proposed housing abuts the canal not in cutting, the development brief should specify a planting ‘buffer’ so as to further the aims of the BHS.

Transport Considerations - It will be necessary to surface the canal towpath in Deep Cutting, and to create a ramped access to it from Brantbeck Bridge. This could be achieved through the CIL or planning obligations.

Para 12.33

This refers to two new road crossings of the West Coast Main Line. These roads will also have to cross the Lancaster Canal and it is essential that appropriate protection of the canal’s heritage and environment is built in to these schemes.

There may be scope for further canal related enterprises in association with this site, for example a marina and visitor moorings to relieve pressure from the already limited visitor moorings in central Lancaster. Public transport links including a possible link to the J33 Park & Ride would encourage visitors to spend time and money in the City.

SECTION 13: CENTRAL LANCASTER

Policy SG6- The objective to make optimum use of the canal frontage in any redevelopment is welcomed (viii). We would support the aim to enhance the biodiversity of the BHS.

Policy SG7 – We would wish to see the long term future of the Maritime Museum secured as part of the development of Lancaster Quay.

SECTION 14: EAST LANCASTER.

Policy SG 8- Land at Ridge Farm

We welcome the ‘no net loss in value of the canal BHS’ policy . Where the canal is contiguous with the housing site, there should also be a commitment to a wide buffer zone of planting so as to support and enhance the BHS.

Policy SG 9

We welcome the policy to investigate means of achieving direct access to the canal towpath from the site. (v), (xviii ). This may require a new bridging point for pedestrians and cyclists. ( Paras 14.9 & 14.17).

SECTION 15: NORTH LANCASTER.

Policy SG 10- Land at Hammerton Hall

We welcome the ‘no net loss in value of the BHS’ ( viii & ix). Also the reference made to the contribution of the canal as a major green corridor. The creation of habitats within the site, particularly to the east of the canal, should seek to enhance biodiversity instead of conveying an urban appearance to this area

The particular intent of the Policy in relation to (xiii) - “a positive relationship with the canal” is far too vague as is.

Para 15.12 - The towpath will be a major sustainable transport route into the city, and should thus benefit from developer contributions through CIL.

Policy SG 11- Land at Beaumont Hall

We welcome the policies relating to the BHS (ix) and the green corridor (vii), and to new planting and habitat creation, which we recommend, should be concentrated along the canal frontage.

We welcome the expressed aim to achieve good permeability to Lancaster centre (xv). Again, such works should be supported through the CIL.

SECTION 16: SOUTH CARNFORTH

Policy SG 13- Land at Lundsfield Quarry

LCT again welcome reference to the canal BHS, and the commitment to new habitat creation ( ix & xi).

The proposal for a pedestrian bridge ( iii & Para 16.26) across the canal will require careful consideration in terms of the precise location and how it is best assimilated into the landscape of this section of canal. The bridge should also be designed for use by cyclists, the elderly and less mobile ie mulit-user friendly..

Policy SG14 - Land South of Windermere Rd

We welcome policies vi, x, and xi ( BHS, habitat enhancement )

SECTION 18: ECONOMY, EMPLOYMENT, AND REGENERATION

Para 18.49- 18.50 Policy EC3 Jct 33 Agri- business Centre.

LCRP has a number of concerns in relation to this site, principally relating to environmental quality. In view of the nature of the proposed uses, environmental safeguards would need to be strictly applied to ensure there is no possibility of discharges from the site into the canal and odours into the atmosphere. We would also recommend that the business uses be limited so as not to generate environmental health problems( eg from animal processing ).There are a number of canal-related enterprises in the vicinity whose viability could well be threatened.

Subject to the above it is possible that there may be scope for further canal related enterprises in association with this site eg cycle hire, boating and angling supplies.

SECTION 20: HOUSING

Policy H1: See our comments under Sections 1-11 and various specific housing development sites.

SECTION 22: THE HISTORIC & NATURAL ENVIRONMENT

Paras 22.11 & 22.16- We feel that there should be increased reference to the canal as a heritage asset. The canal will celebrate the bicentenary of its completion to Kendal in 2019 and it is important that this heritage is protected and enhanced.

SECTION 23: SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES

We welcome reference to the canal in SC 4 (the canal as an important element of the green space network.)

SECTION 24: TRANSPORT, ACCESSIBILITY & CONNECTIVITY

Policy T2- The canal could be mentioned as a major element of the walking/ cycling infrastructure which will serve a number of the proposed housing sites. See our comments on improving this infrastructure (Section 4, SO3 & SO5)

PART 2: REVIEW OF THE DEVELOPMENT MANAGEMENT DPD

SECTION 8: LEISURE & CULTURE

Policy DM 21: Para 8.9 Creation and Protection of Cultural Assets. The canal should be mentioned in the range of facilities/activities .

Policy DM 24: Para 8.22 Open Spaces, Sports and Recreational Facilities. The canal is one of the few linear accessible open spaces in the District. As such, it has a much wider value in connecting up settlements whilst accessing countryside and natural assets.

SECTION 11 THE HISTORIC ENVIRONMENT

Policy DM36 Paras 11.40-45 Non-Designated Heritage Assets. The canal is the principal linear heritage asset in the district, and should be referred to.

SECTION12: THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT

Policies DM40 & 42 Para 12.13 Development affecting Environmentally Sensitive Sites- This should mention the canal, as a major linear BHS.

SECTION 13: DEVELOPMENT IN RURAL AREAS

Policies DM 43, 44 &49 Paras 13.27-36 This section deals with caravan sites, but there may be merit in separate guidance relating to marinas and long-term moorings along the canal.

SECTION 16: INFRASTRUCTURE DELIVERY

Policies DM 55&56 Paras 16.3 - 16.14 CIL and Planning Obligations- We particularly welcome the policy on this, as being crucial to achieving the upgrading of the canal towpath where necessary.

SECTION 17: TRANSPORT, ACCESSIBILITY, AND CONNECTIVITY

Policies DM 58 & 59 Para 17.4 - The support for sustainable modes of transport is welcomed.

Para 17.15- Specific reference could be made to the canal towpath, as the major N-S off-road walking and cycling route, and a resource to complement contiguous development proposals.

It may be that the needs of commuter cyclists will not be adequately met unless a new “cycle only” commuter route is planned/developed. Cycling at speed on a multi-user towpath is fraught with risk to all concerned and cycling at speed through/under canal bridges is fraught with danger for cyclists.

Submitted by Audrey Smith OBE

Chairman Lancaster Canal Regeneration Partnership

T: 01257 274 440 and 07776 211 388

E: Audrey@familysmith.co.uk