Innovation research campus at Land To The West Of Health Innovation One Sir John Fisher Drive Lancaster University Lancaster

What was proposed

The application sought outline permission for a knowledge and research campus with up to 25,000 square metres of floorspace and 384 parking spaces.

“The application seeks outline planning permission for the development of a knowledge and research Innovation Campus comprising Use Class E(g) buildings, associated car parking and primary access. The proposal seeks to deliver up to 25,000 square metres of floorspace to be used for research and development and similar uses, with a maximum of 384 car parking spaces. A landscape buffer area at least 30 metres within the site along the western boundary to the A6 is proposed.”

Officer report

The site and surroundings

The site lies between Lancaster and Lancaster University, with existing campus buildings, access, parking, trees, flood risks and nearby heritage assets.

“The application site is located between the southern periphery of Lancaster city (Collingham Park) and the northern boundaries of Lancaster University, immediately south of Bailrigg Lane. There is an existing (9,313sq.m floorspace) office/research building constructed circa 2020 through earlier consents at the site for the wider health innovation campus. This building sits just beyond the development area of this application.”

“There are protected trees within the site. These are primarily located along the northern boundary to Bailrigg Lane, and a couple of trees adjacent to the existing ‘Phase One’ Health Innovation Building’. The site is within a smoke control area. Ou Beck is designated as Flood Zone 3b, with pockets of 1 in 30 to 1 in 1000 surface water flood risk areas within the site, and Flood Zones 2 and 3 in similar areas to surface water risks.”

Officer report

Why officers supported it

Officers considered the proposal aligned with employment allocations and found its substantial economic and social benefits outweighed moderate visual and tree impacts.

“As with any development of this scale on a site predominantly characterised by grassland and tree boundaries, the construction of large employment buildings will inevitably result in adverse visual impacts. These are assessed as moderate adverse from certain viewpoints around the site, with additional moderate harm arising from tree loss.”

“On the basis of the outline submission and information available at this stage, the moderate visual and tree impacts are considered to be outweighed by the substantial economic and social benefits the development will deliver. Overall, subject to mitigation, the proposal is considered to accord with the Development Plan and will help realise a long-standing aspiration of the Council.”

Officer report

Who spoke

The chair of Scotforth Parish Council spoke against the application, and the agent responded in support.

The committee vote

The committee approved the proposal after fifteen councillors voted in favour, with none against and no abstentions.

“That the application be approved subject to the conditions in the Committee Report.”

“Upon being put to the vote, 15 Councillors voted in favour of the proposal with none against and no abstentions, whereupon the Chair declared the proposal to have been carried.”

Minutes

The decision

The application was approved subject to a legal agreement securing financial contributions, biodiversity and landscape measures, alongside thirty planning conditions.

“That the application be approved subject to the following conditions:”

Minutes