“Are you confident this is not too big a change for the nursing home?”
A plan to alter the design of two proposed industrial buildings near a historic Lancaster village mill has been approved.
Applicant Rob Lowery of Lancaster-based Askam Civil Engineering Ltd has been given permission to vary some details for the proposed buildings on land next to Galgate Mill at Chapel Lane, Galgate, including adding extra roller shutter doors. Mr Lowery is working with Erica Wright Architecture Ltd in Kirkby Lonsdale.
Lancaster City Council’s planning committee has approved the variations for the industrial buildings, which will have individual business units, parking spaces, a vehicle turning area and landscaping.
The site is north of Galgate Mill with a variety of commercial and residential buildings nearby. Galgate Silk Mills are two buildings on either side of Chapel Lane, both are Grade II listed and of national heritage importance, according to a council planning report.
Permission was granted previously for the two new industrial buildings but the new application will change some details. These include removing some side and ground floor windows, having extra roller shutters and pedestrian doors on the north side, fewer first floor openings and having some shutter doors instead of glazed areas.
At Lancaster City Council’s latest planning committee meeting, planning officers recommended councillors to approve the changes with conditions.
A council report highlighted buildings of importance nearby. A five-storey brick building on Chapel Lane’s east side dates from 1852 and is now student accommodation. Its square, tall chimney is a local landmark, the report said. On Chapel Lane’s west side is a sandstone building which was converted from a corn mill in 1792 and extended in the 1830s. It is now factory units. Elsewhere, Ellel House is another Grade II listed building which is now a nursing home.
Speaking at the committee, Coun Alan Greenwell said: “There is a nursing home nearby where people are generally living their final days. Are there any changes from this plan they they will see?”
Planning officer Andrew Clement said: “Yes, the parking situation has changed and the proposed landscaped area on the south is slightly smaller. But one of the positives is that the front of the building facing the nursing home will have natural materials. There will be four roller shutters than the previously approved two. But stone materials will be used on the building, which will have a mitigating effect.”
Committee chairwoman Coun Sandra Thornberry said: “Are you confident this is not too big a change for the nursing home?”
Mr Clement replied: “Yes, the buildings have already been approved and the proposed industrial or employment use does not represent a change.”
Coun Tom Fish asked about potential light pollution at night. He said: “Are lights proposed on high posts? I have concerns about light pollution and wonder if we should have conditions requiring low posts or timing for lights?”
Mr Clement said: “A light study has been done and planning conditions will seek to control lighting. There might be some light spillage but not to the east, into the woods.”
Councillors approved the plan.
