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Last Updated: 29 June 2006
Lancaster's streets and unique appeal, which has
made it so attractive to many people down the years, is again under
attack, part of the seemingly relentless "big box" development
that has transformed almost every British town into mirror images of
each other, where high rates and bad planning decisions leave city
centres with nothing but big chain stores and high street names you can find
anywhere, at the expense of independent local retailers and services.
There has always been development in Lancaster, but ever since the old Victorian
market burnt down in the 1980s (see separate feature),
one council administration after another seems to have pushed through development
plans which have slowly destroyed Lancaster's heritage. As "regeneration"
fever hits Morecambe, it seems similar mistakes might soon be made
there, too.
Our development pages seek to outline the current state of play of various
city centre developments and some of the history behind them.
Corrections,
additions and comments are always welcome.
We have several features
on local development in Lancaster and Morecambe, as well as features
on the current Bypass plans: and
have covered dveleopment in many news articles (most indexed
below)
FEATURES
Lancaster Development
• The Canal Corridor
Ongoing Updates: A guide to this development project being developed
by the Council and preferred parter Centros Miller, and concerns about it
• Lancaster Market
Last updated: 6/5/03, John Freeman outlines some of the problems
facing Lancaster Market
• The Storey so far
Last updated 2/6/04: Concern about plans to turn one of Lancaster's
prized buildings, the Storey Institute, into what some have called an "arts
factory"
Past Lancaster Development Issues
• Development History
How local people stopped Carillion-Chelverton from building a huge supermarket
in Lancaster
• Aerial and
Phone Masts
Last updated May 2002: An article on aerials and phone masts
• The Crypt
Last Updated 02/05: Report on the closure of Lancaster's last
independent night club
• Kingsway
How PC World and Pizza Hut came to Lancaster
• Lancaster
University
Last updated: 29/9/02: Steve Booth outlines some of the issues
resulting from the Univeristy's continued spread
• The Musician's Co-op
Now declared safe by current developers Centros Miller and
the Council (although currently the outline plans mean it will be moved
to a new building beside a busy road, which might play havoc with recording
studios), this article outlines why it's such a valauable community
resource. We also ran an article
on changes in music licesing laws.
• Skate Parks
Posted 2003: Lancaster and Carnforth now have skate parks.
Here, skateboarder Matt Canty outlines why they're needed
• Whinney Carr
Local action put paid to this monstrous housing proposal
Morecambe Development
• The West End
Last updated 5/1/05: West End resident Chas Ambler has condemned the
projected 'regeneration' plan for the West End of Morecambe, which he says
will will turn the area into a dormitory for Lancaster and points South, with
no economic life of its own.
• Comments on Local Development
An archive of some comments: if you want to comment on any local issue
or VL news story, please use the forum
DEVELOPMENT NEWS ARCHIVE
An archive
listing of news items about the development
plans for Lancaster, comprising news stories on this site and others,
including Grassroots
Lancaster and Real Planning for Lancaster. Check back for new items as
they are published both online or in Lancaster's local
press.
Jump to
• News Items by Date • Print Media News Items
News Items
This archive does not include every development story posted
on VL (and some stories posted by local press) but hopefully it is a
useful
guide. The most recent story is at the top of the page.
2006
• No
Champion for Centros
18/7/06: Coun Ian Barker has denied any suggestion he is fully
behind developer Centros Miller, following suggestions that as the
leader of a Council working in partnership in the proposed Lancaster
Canal Corridor development he was a "champion" for the company's
plans.
• City
Centre Plan spells trafic chaos
12/7/06: Traffic gridlock and the death of Lancaster's existing
city centre -- that's the future for the city if the City Council signs
a deal with Centros Miller later this month, claim campaigners
• Local Planning Group rejects Centros Miller Canal Corridor Development
26/06/06: Local group It’s Our City have rejected plans
for developing the Lancaster Canal Corridor. The move has been prompted by major
concerns that Centros Miller have failed to address. Read More...
• Canal
Corridor Debate
13/5/06: The City Council's Cabinet will discuss the "Canal
Corridor"
development on 20 June 2006 Read
More...
• Empty
Shops
13/5/06: One in five of Lancaster's shops are empty Read
More...
• New
Supermarket for Lancaster?
22/3/06: Two new food super stores for Lancaster and
Morecambe, more quality shopping and careful consideration
of "edge of town" retail developments are among the findings
of a
106 page report on Retail Needs in the Lancaster and Morecambe
area (PDF document), recently published by the Council. Read
More...
• Workers in
the dark?
2/3/06: Workers at a local factory that makes products sold world-wide
say they are being kept in the dark about the future of the business. Read
More...
• Cautious welcome
for corridor plans
2/3/06: A cautious welcome has been given to developer Centros
Miller’s
plans for Lancaster's Canal Corridor North site by Bulk Ward councillor
Ian Barker -- but he says that many questions still remain to be answered. Read
More...
• More
detail on Centros Miller plans
17/2/06: At an exclusive presentation
for virtual-lancaster, Centros Miller and PR company Halogen yesterday offered
more detail on their plans for Lancaster’s “canal corridor” area,
and answered some of the many questions local residents have about the scheme.
• First
look: Centros Miller reveals initial ideas for Canal Corridor
15/2/06: New premises for the Musicians’ Cop-op, restaurants
and cafes, a commitment to pedestrianisation and some green space are
among the ideas featured in developers first outline plan for Lancaster’s
Canal Corridor, published today. But along with the positive comes
a proposal for a multi-story car park that will overshadow local houses
and a large expansion in retail space – including a new department
store.
2005
Seeking Views
20/12/05: Centros Miller's PR company Halogen has set up a web site, Castle
View (www.castle-view.info), which
they intend to be a reliable up-to-date source of information on Lancaster's
Canalside project.
- Response
to Lancaster
Guardian connection discovery
19/12/05: Centros Miller's PR company has responded quickly
to Virtual-Lancaster's note that one of the Miller Group's non-executive
director is also Chief Executive of Johnston Press, owners of the Lancaster
Guardian and the Morecambe Visitor
- Lancaster
transformed - or Lancaster lost?
18/12/05: Has the Lancaster Guardian
already sided with Centros Miller, no matter what its plans?
- Co-op
safe, say developers
24/11/05: The specialist city
centre regeneration developer Centros Miller has assured locals the
Musicians Co-op will not be lost when development begins on the old
Mitchell Brewery site
- It's Our City
Campaign launches
Posted 16/11/05
It's Our City, a new group has been set up by concerned
residents, the Music Co-op and local businesses, to have
meaningful dialogue with the City Council and their preferred
developer Centros Miller about planed developments on Lancaster's
Canal Corridor. - What
next for the Musicians Coop?
Posted 5/11/05
The Muscians Co-op may again be under threat, although council leader assures
it isn't
-Kingsway
Work starts next week
Posted 6/1/05. PC World and Pizz Hut, oh yes.
2004
- Kingsway plans
condemned
Posted 16/2/04: A door to door opinion poll about plans for
Lancaster's Kingsway Baths has seen a big thumbs down for plans put
forward by Liberty Properties.
2003
- Defer planning
approval, say Greens
17/12/03: Bulk Green party members are calling
for the planning decision on the former Kingsway Baths site
to be deferred from late January in order to allow for effective
public consultation on the plans.
- Kingsway
Development Concerns
2/12/03: The local Green Party has serious concerns about the development plans
submitted by Liberty Properties for the old bus station and swimming baths
site at Kingsway, Lancaster.
- Real
Planning -- Your Views wanted
14/6/03: Local community group Real Planning for Lancaster is seeking
your views on development in the city
Posted 14/6/03
2002
- 17/12/02: Community
campaigners opposing Carillion's plans for a new superstore in
Lancaster
have welcomed a leading think-tank's report on the impact supermarkets
have on neighbourhood shops, and jobs.
- 11/12/02: The motion passed
by Lancaster City Council against the sale of land
- 11/12/02: Lancaster City Council vote against Big Box, Supermarket and road on
land they own in the canal area, and for negotiations for long-term
lease for the Music Co-op
- 26/11/02: Simon
Morgan of Chelverton and Alan Mitchell of Carillion come to speak
to MP Hilton Dawson, County Cllr Jon Sear, Local Cllrs and Representatives
from Real Planning, The Grand, The Dukes and The Music Co-op. Locals
chant and drum outside the meeting, while Morgan inside dismisses Local
Opinion as "irrelevant".
- 25/11/02: The Music Co-op puts in their own application for planning
permission - for a new 300 person venue and to improve facilities
at the co-op.
- 30/10/02: Carillion recruitment protest - Carillion are one
of the companies behind CR Chelverton. Since they were at a recruitment
fair at Lancaster Uni Grassroots Lancaster decided to pay them a visit...
- 28/10/02: Surprise protest outside Chelverton offices. Some of us were in
Bristol, so decided to visit the Chelverton offices there...
- 8/10/02: Chelverton turn down chance of community consultation
- 25/09/02: Chelverton: "New Road Essential to Development" - exclusive interview with Simon
Morgan - director of CR Chelverton
- 27/08/02: Vie
ws on the Musicians' Co-op
- 27/09/02: Critical Mass, including Photos
- a mass action by Lancastrians on bike, skateboard on foot to raise
awareness about the threat from Chelverton
And what the papers have been saying...
The Citizen 12/12/02: Music
to city ears
25/11/02: How your Co-op could be! - Co-op press release
The Citizen 14/11/02: "Big box retailing" Ruled out for site on canal corridor
The Citizen 24/10/02: Community
vision to 'get real'
The Citizen 24/10/02: Who's sorry now?
23/10/02: Special Benefit
The Citizen 17/10/02: Time to start thinking for the area and stop playing party politics
The Citizen 17/10/02:
And all that jazz
Lancaster Guardian 11/10/02: Keep
true to the 'cultural quarter'
Lancaster Guardian 11/10/02: Yet
more empty promises
Lancaster Guardian 11/10/02: Does
our city deserve its cultural title?
The Citizen 10/10/02:
Talk to us Chelverton!
The Citizen 10/10/02:
Divide and conquer
The Citizen 3/10/02: Bands
of hope
The Citizen 3/10/02: Anti
Chelverton protest grows
Lancaster Guardian 27/9/02: Don't
take our music away
Lancaster Guardian 27/9/02: Pedal
power disruption
Lancaster Guardian 27/9/02: Band
aid for troubled Co-op
The Citizen 26/9/02: This
city is being stripped of it's greenbelt and will end up like Coventry
or Wolverhampton!
The Citizen 26/9/02: All
that jazz for the Co-op
Lancaster Guardian 20/9/02: We
must keep this vital platform
Lancaster Guardian 20/9/02: Beating
the Co-op drum
The Citizen 19/9/02: Rock
gig pays dividends!
Lancaster Guardian 13/10/02: Don't
close this wonderful Co-op
Lancaster Guardian 13/10/02: Money
talks ... quietly
The Citizen 12/9/02: Let's
think about a cultural quarter
Lancaster Guardian 6/9/02: Co-op
has role in cultural quarter
Lancaster Guardian 6/9/02: No
guarantees on Lodge Street site
Lancaster Guardian 6/9/02: Singing
to save the Co-op
The Citizen 5/9/02: Sound
advice
The Citizen 5/9/02: Music
to our ears
The Citizen 29/8/02: Readers
letter
Lancaster Guardian 30/8/02: Readers'
letters about the Co-op
Lancaster Guardian 30/8/02: Co-op
meeting
Lancaster Guardian 23/8/02: Co-op's
plea to save space
Lancaster Guardian 23/8/02: New
vision must include Co-op
Lancaster Guardian 23/8/02: Think
again
Lancaster Guardian 23/8/02: We need answers
Lancaster Guardian 23/8/02: Crazy
council
Lancaster Guardian 23/8/02: Dismay
at proposal
Lancaster Guardian 23/8/02: Great
loss in the offing
Lancaster Guardian 23/8/02: Safeguard
the co-op
Lancaster Guardian 23/8/02: We
must keep music alive
The Citizen 22/8/02: At
last... a public service report you can trust!
The Citizen 22/8/02: W
e must save the Co-op
The Visitor 21/8/02: Don't
take the music away
Lancaster Guardian 16/8/01: Concern
for musicians
Lancaster Guardian 16/8/01: Importance
of the Local Plan
Lancaster Guardian 16/8/01: Musicians
call for band aid
The Citizen 15/8/02: Why
the Beat Must Go On
Lancaster Guardian 9/8/02: Wrong
for big development, Air
ey dismayed with Labour, Kingsway
ideas have to fit in
The Visitor 7/8/02: Don't
build a supermarket in city centre
Lancaster Guardian 2/8/02: Ian
Barker warns council over Kingsway proposals: "Don't sell out to developers"
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