Planning permission granted for 36 new homes in south Lancaster village

Marsh Lane, Cockerham. Image courtesy of Instant Streetview.

Developer Darwen based Southworth Construction was given the go ahead by councillors, despite objections from Cockerham Parish Councillors and some residents.

The application was initially approved in November 2020.

Lancaster City Council planning officers said that within hours of the decision, the developer made a start on site in the form of engineering operations to create the access from the A588, and significant earth remodelling across the site.

Officers served a Temporary Stop Notice (TSN) on the developer on November 16 2020.

This required all operations to cease on the site with immediate effect.

Officers said that whilst the works undertaken were in broad correlation with what would have been expected when development on site commences, no formal planning permission had been granted for the site and the consent was subject to a Section 106 agreement.

The developer continued to work on the site despite the TSN being served, although work had ceased by December 9.

Cockerham Parish Council objected to the development on grounds that the village has a lack of amenities, difficulties with road access and insufficient infrastructure relating to foul water and surface water drainage which would not be able to cope.

There were also 17 letters of objection from residents with concerns focussing on flooding, highways, lack of services, landscape and lack of housing need.

Councillors voted unanimously in favour of the scheme at a planning committee meeting on January 5, but attached several conditions including:

· The provision of 11 houses to be secured across the site to be affordable comprising 3 x two bedroom and 2 x three bedroom as affordable rent, and 6 x three bedroom semi-detached as shared ownership;

· Education contribution of £92,247.00 for four secondary school places;

· Open space off-site contribution of £60,000 to be utilised within the village of Cockerham for enhancements to play and sport facilities;

· Long term maintenance of landscaping, open space and non-adopted drainage and highways and associated street lighting.