On 22 January 2025 Lancaster City Council adopted a partial review of its Local Plan to ensure that planning decisions take greater account of the implications of climate change.  The partial review has not changed the amount of development that is needed in the district or added or removed areas of land that have already been identified for development. Instead, the policies are intended to help shape development proposals to achieve better outcomes for climate change mitigation, adaption, and resilience. An example is the new planning policy on building new homes that are more energy efficient that will reduce both energy use and heating bills for the new residents. The partial review updates both of the following previously adopted documents:  

• Part One: Strategic Policies & Land Allocations (climate emergency) Development Plan Document
• Part Two: Development Management (climate emergency) Development Plan Document

These Development Plan Documents are key parts of the development plan for Lancaster District. Upon adoption these updated documents superseded the documents previously adopted in July 2020.  The City Council makes decisions about planning proposals by considering how proposals comply with planning policies in adopted local plans. 

A new Local Plan Hub for Lancaster District

The world does not stand still!

Please take a look at our Local Plan Hub to be kept informed>>>>>>>>

In the summer of 2023 Lancashire County Council, supported by Lancaster City Council, decided to suspend work on the “South Lancaster Growth Catalyst”.  This project had intended to enable significant development to the south of Lancaster, including a new settlement, the Bailrigg Garden Village, by providing new infrastructure, particularly new road and transport infrastructure. The infrastructure was to be supported by a significant grant award from the government. Following the decision to suspend that work Lancaster City Council also stopped preparing the Lancaster South Area Action Plan. That document was going to provide the detail on where development would be in south Lancaster, the Council instead resolved to prepare a whole new Local Plan.  The new Local Plan will re-explore how much development is needed in the whole district, then where and how that development should be achieved.

Work on the whole-new plan is on-going.  We have published our new digital Hub for the full review of the Local Plan. We hope that our new digital approach and the information will help everyone to understand the local plan process.  We have asked for feedback, if you do find something is not clearly explained tell us and we will try to explain it better. The hub will be kept up to date as the new local plan is prepared.   Further information on the new local plan can be found on the Local Plan Hub, link below.   

Call for Young Adults to get involved in Placemaking and the Local Plan

We are calling for young people aged 18 to 30 participate in a range of events through May and June looking at what defines a sense of place and what is important in new buildings, spaces and places. The City Council, supported by Lancaster University, will be holding a series of interactive WALKshops in Lancaster, Morecambe and Carnforth which will seek to engage young people in a range of principles of placemaking in the development of the Local Plan and can start to explore the important characteristics of new development in the district.

Why Should You Join Our WALKshops?

1.  Hands-On Experience: Discover firsthand how potential development sites could evolve. Your opinions will directly impact decisions that might even shape your future home or workplace. 🤝
2.  Be a Community Changemaker: Engage in lively discussions about what matters to you—sustainable infrastructure, vibrant neighbourhoods, or more green spaces. Your ideas could be the catalyst for healthier, more thriving communities.
3.  Meet Like-Minded People: This is more than just a meeting—it's a chance to forge connections with fellow advocates, passionate about creating a better tomorrow.

Young people aged 18 to 30 - Sign up here

You can read about the placemaking project & latest blogs on our storyboard.  

Call for Local Green Spaces (2025)

Access to a network of high quality open spaces and opportunities for sport and physical activity is important for health and the wellbeing of communities. The designation of land as Local Green Space through local plans allows communities to identify and protect green areas of particular importance to them. Planning policies for managing development within Local Green Spaces are consistent with Green Belts and therefore the level of protection afforded through designation is high. Local Green Spaces can only be designated when a Plan is being prepared or updated.

We need your help to identify areas of Local Green Space across the district.

The call for Local Green Spaces will run to Monday 28 July 2025.   Go to our Local Plan Hub to find out more!!

Call for sites - 2nd round

As part of the preparation of the Local Plan we would like to know if there are potential sites or broad locations for development that should be investigated.  The ‘Call for Sites’ process is an excellent opportunity for landowners, developers, and individuals to suggest areas for potential future development. You can submit sites for any type of future use including housing, employment and retail. This is the 2nd round of the ‘Call for Sites process’. Go to our Local Plan Hub to find out more!!.

Interim Lancaster District Local Plan Timetable 

This is an Interim Lancaster District Local Plan Timetable , it has been submitted to government and published on the City Council’s website to satisfy the Government’s direction that a new timetable must be made available by 6th March 2025. The City Council’s Cabinet will formally consider the proposed timetable soon. It is hoped that Cabinet will have the benefit of the awaited details of the new system from Government to support that formal consideration. The Council’s Cabinet will confirm, or potentially amend the interim timetable below, prospectively on 15 April 2025. A formally approved version of the timetable will then appear on the City Council’s website.

Evidence to support the new Local Plan 

We continue to collect evidence (information) to support the new Local Plan. Once completed they are added to the Local Plan Hub.

Please take a look at our Local Plan Hub to be kept informed>>>>>>>>

Engagement doesn't end here!

We want to keep you informed, so please do check this page regularly. If you would like more information or feel that you would like to be involved in the development of the Local Plan, please contact us: planningpolicy@lancaster.gov.uk  and join our mailing list.

Want to know more about how we consult and engage on planning matters

• Have a look at our Statement of Community Involvement