Like many Lancastrians, I have been alarmed to see a fresh planning application made by Story Homes to build 232 houses off Grab Lane. This is land which the Environment Agency has assessed as having a 1 in 100 or greater annual probability of river flooding and previously sought to build a flood storage basin on.
Let’s be clear: Lancaster needs more housing. Every day I receive calls from constituents in desperate housing situations because our City simply doesn’t have enough decent, affordable homes. This does not mean however, that we solve the housing crisis through building homes at risk from flooding and which would only heighten the flood risk along the Burrow Beck.
Scotforth East City Councillor, Sophie Maddocks, said “people living along Lentworth Drive in particular are really nervous about this application. They were flooded twice in the space of one month back in 2020, it isn’t fair that their homes are once again put at risk by a developer looking to turn a quick profit.”
I have raised my concerns with Lancaster City Council and will be writing to residents living near to the development to update them with the latest news. I will also be working with County Councillor Lizzi Collinge and Labour’s Lisa Corkerry to encourage people to object to this latest application.
I urge you to share your views on it by going to planning.lancaster.gov.uk, entering the reference 23/00324/FUL, and clicking on ‘make a comment’ before the deadline on Saturday 27 May (however they may still accept responses after the deadline).