The Authority Monitoring Report is a document which is produced by us annually, looking back at the previous financial year from 1 April to 31 March. The AMR assess the implementation of the local development scheme and the extent to which our planning policies are being achieved.  It includes an updated five-year housing land supply position covering the relevant monitoring period.

The report also includes details of:

• the progress made with documents included in the local development scheme
• progress with neighbourhood development plans
• cooperation with other local planning authorities
• monitoring indicators

The Localism Act (and subsequent Town and Country Planning Regulations 2012) removes the requirement for local planning authorities to produce an Annual Monitoring Report for Government. However, the Act retains the overall duty to monitor and there is clear benefit for the council in sharing the performance and achievements of the planning service with the local community.

• Authority Monitoring Report for financial year 2023/24
• Authority Monitoring Report for financial year 2022/23
• Archived Authority Monitoring Reports

Housing Land Monitoring Report (HLMR)

The Council prepares two housing land monitoring reports. The first report is the Housing Land Monitoring Report which details housing completions and housing permission data. The second report is the Housing Land Supply Statement. This report includes information on where the Council expects future housing completions to come from and describes whether or not the Council is able to demonstrate a five year housing land supply. The Housing Land Supply Statement is accompanied by a housing trajectory.

The latest reports are available to view below. In 2023 the Council prepared a digital interactive map which showed spatially where the Council expected the future delivery of housing to come from. This map will be updated as part of the preparation of the next Housing Land Supply Statement and will have new a base date of the 1^st March 2025.

• Housing Land Monitoring Report, Supply Position and Trajectory as of 1 April 2025 
• View archived HLMR documents

On an annual basis the Council undertakes monitoring surveys where they assess the changes in employment land in the district. This position statement provides some of the key information on the changes to employment uses and the land take-up within the district, this includes:

• Proposals granted for planning permission between 1st April  and 31st March each year;
• The number of new employment developments completed between 1st April and 31st March each year; and
• Future development pressures and trends for employment within the district.
  • Employment & Land Monitoring Position Statement 2020-2021
  • Employment & Land Monitoring Position Statement 2021-2022
  • Employment & Land Monitoring Position Statement 2022-2023

On an annual basis the City Council undertakes a series of monitoring surveys where they assess the changes in retailing and town centre floorspace within the district. This position statement provides some of the key information on changes to retail use and the creation / loss of retail floorspace including:
Proposals granted for planning permission between 1st April 2021 and 31st March 2022;

• Proposals granted for planning permission between 1st April  and 31st March each year;
• The number of new employment developments completed between 1st April and 31st March each year; and
• Future development pressures and trends for employment within the district
  • Town Centre & Retail Monitoring Position Statement 2021-2022

The Level 1 SFRA Update completed for the Climate Emergency Review of the Local Plan has been superseded by the Lancaster District Level 1 SFRA (January 2025) which has been produced for the Local Plan Review.

PLEASE NOTE:

The new SFRA Interactive map and Ground Water pdf maps should now be used when considering planning applications.

These can be found on the Local Plan Hub in the Natural & Built Environment Technical Evidence section. Before you use the interactive map please read the 'How to Guide' found with the SFRA Maps.

The Level 1 SFRA (in the 'Archived 2021 SFRA' drop down box) was completed to inform the partial review of the Local Plan for Lancaster District, specifically relating to policies which relate to the way in which the Council seeks to address climate change.

The Green and Blue Infrastructure Strategy aims to highlight the importance of connecting green and blue spaces together, their multifunctional value and the contribution they make.

1. Green and Blue Infrastructure Strategy - Storyboard 
2. Green and Blue Infrastructure Strategy (including Appendix 1, 2, 3 and 6 and Interactive Map)
3. Emerging GBI Projects within the Lancaster District (Future Action Plan)_ Appendix 4
4. GBI Strategy Proposed GBI Toolkit_ Appendix 5
5. GBI Strategy Addendum: Initial Outcomes_ Appendix 7

We have a Statutory Duty with regards to biodiversity and is required under the Environment Act 2021 to publish a Biodiversity Report, setting out what it has done and plans to do to conserve and enhance biodiversity across the District and how that will be monitored.  The First Consideration Report (approved 4 June 2024) sets out our current position and steps we intend to take to fulfil this duty.