Up to 90 homes at Land East Of Powderhouse Lane, Lancaster
Summary of planning committee decision
Decided by Lancaster Planning Regulatory Committee on 11 May 2026.
What was proposed
The outline scheme sought up to 90 dwellings, including affordable housing, public open space, landscaping, drainage and associated works.
“26/00004/OUT Outline application with all matters reserved for the erection of up to 90 dwellings, including affordable housing, public open space, landscaping, and sustainable urban drainage system (SUDS) and associated works. Bolton & Slyne Ward A(106)”
Minutes
The site and surroundings
The site borders the West Coast Main Line, so Network Rail required controls for construction, drainage, safety, noise, vibration and future maintenance.
“Network Rail Network Rail has been consulted given the site’s immediate proximity to the West Coast Main Line, which forms the eastern boundary of the application site. Network Rail has raised a number of operational, safety and asset protection requirements to ensure that the construction and long‑term occupation of the development does not adversely affect the integrity, stability or safe operation of the operational railway and its associated infrastructure.”
“In particular, Network Rail has advised that all works within influencing distance of the railway will need to be carefully managed, including matters relating to earthworks, foundations, drainage, boundary treatments, construction activities and future maintenance.”
Officer report
What officers recommended
Officers recommended granting outline permission because the proposal’s benefits outweighed its identified harms, subject to a legal agreement and conditions.
“In the context of the presumption in favour of sustainable development, the assessment of this proposal against the NPPF taken as a whole, concludes that there are no clear strong reasons for refusing the application which would effectively disengage the tilted balance. Therefore, in applying the titled balanced, the test is whether any adverse impacts arising from the development would significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits of the proposal.”
“That Outline Planning Permission BE GRANTED following the satisfactory completion of a Legal Agreement within 3 months of the date of this Committee meeting, and subject to the conditions listed below.”
Officer report
Public concerns and support
A representative of Friends of Barley Cop Woods and a councillor raised concerns, while the agent spoke in favour of the application.
“Under the scheme of public participation, Pete Turnbull (on behalf of the Friends of Barley Cop Woods) and Councillor Jean Parr raised concerns regarding the application. Laurie Lane (Lane Town Planning Ltd) spoke in favour of the application.”
Minutes
What members decided
Councillors proposed and seconded approval subject to the conditions in the committee report.
“It was proposed by Councillor Keith Budden and seconded by Councillor Robert Redfern:”
“That the application be approved subject to the conditions in the Committee Report.”
Minutes
The vote
Thirteen councillors voted for approval, none voted against, and one abstained.
“Upon being put to the vote, 13 Councillors voted in favour of the proposal with none against and one abstention, whereupon the Chair declared the proposal to have been carried.”
Minutes
The final decision
The committee approved the application subject to a legal agreement, planning obligations and the listed conditions.
“That the application be approved subject to the following conditions:”
Minutes
Sources
- Lancaster Planning Regulatory Committee minutes, 11 May 2026
- Agenda and papers (council website)
Source: Plota analysis of Lancaster's committee minutes and officer report. Quotations are the council's own words; headings and summaries are Plota's.
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See the API →At the meeting
- Council
- Lancaster
- Date
- Monday 11 May 2026
- Recommendation
- Officers recommended approval
- Committee decided
- Approved
- Vote
- 13 for, 0 against, 1 abstained
- Minutes
- The council's minutes
- Meeting
- Agenda and papers (council website)
- Application
- View application →
- All decisions
- Lancaster committee decisions →
Source: Plota analysis of the minutes.
This committee's year
51 decisions in the 12 months to this meeting, 3 against officer advice.
Source: Plota analysis of the committee's minutes.