Real Planning for Lancaster - Press Release December 2003

Real Planning results to form a 'Masterplan'

(Press release, 03 December) Local group 'Real Planning for Lancaster' have released the results of their survey of hundreds of residents that took place during the summer. Most respondents (83%) did not want to see the land on Lancaster's Canal Corridor to be used for a supermarket - which was the main part of the Chelverton/Carillion proposals last year, instead 92% of the respondents wanted to see land in the city available for use by small local businesses.

There was strong support (83%) for a music, dance, performance venue and the development of affordable family housing (77%) too.

When asked what people liked about Lancaster most respondents named the historic appearance of the existing buildings in the city centre and that they liked being able to walk into town easily.

The most commonly stated dislike about living in, or visiting Lancaster, was the level of traffic congestion and people expressed a fear of violence or vandalism, particularly at night.

Volunteers from the group undertook a door-to-door consultation with residents who live in Lancaster's canal corridor and held stalls on Saturdays in Lancaster's Market Square to ask other people who know the area or live elsewhere in Lancaster. There was strong support for the idea that the area should become the city's 'cultural quarter', which is how this land is described in the local plan.

These results received a warm reception from councillors at November's Regeneration Review Board meeting when Real Planning for Lancaster made a presentation of their survey findings. The group will now be working with the council's planning department to organise a 'Masterplanning' competition which will encourage interest for the site from a range of developers to turn the results from the survey into a real plan for the Lancaster Canal Corridor.

Joanne Wood said "Most of the people that we spoke to were really keen to offer their opinions about the future of the Lancaster Canal Corridor and wanted to be kept informed of any progress. Residents hoped that there could be increased provision for young people and that amenities like the nearby Dukes, Grand Theatre and Musician's co-op could be extended into a cultural quarter to be enjoyed by all."