The first of two consultation events regarding the masterplan for the extension of Great Eccleston will be held on Tuesday December 11. Members of the community are invited to view and give feedback on a series of concepts for the development of an 18-hectare site to the west of the village.
Lancashire planning consultancy De Pol Associates and Wyre Borough Council will host the event at the Great Eccleston Village Centre from 11am to 7pm, on behalf of the landowners. Members of De Pol development team and council officers will be on hand to discuss the various concepts and answer questions. The masterplan is being prepared by De Pol at the request of Wyre Borough Council and to comply with the emerging Local Plan.
The site, which sits between Copp Lane to the south and the A586 Garstang Road, is allocated for a mixed residential and employment development in the emerging Wyre Local Plan, which requires it to include a number of supporting uses. The masterplan must allow for the relocation of the village health centre, which will double in size and offer additional facilities, reserve 1.36 hectares for the provision of a new primary school and incorporate a convenience store and community hall. There will be around four hectares of ‘green infrastructure’, the nature of which will be informed by feedback from the consultation.
Different development concepts for the site will be presented, with members of the community asked to feedback with their opinions.
Alexis De Pol said: “We’ve already sought input from numerous stakeholders, including the parish council and the organisations responsible for health and education provision, to understand their requirements and priorities. These concepts are the result of those discussions and now it is time to seek the views of the wider community.
“The exhibition will be the first opportunity for people to see the vision for the development, and we want them to help shape the masterplan, in particular with regard to the community facilities. There are several concepts that demonstrate how the different elements could work together, and we are keen to hear local people’s preferences through this consultation. Anyone who cannot make one of the events can view the exhibition materials at The Village Centre throughout December and early January, or online and responses can be emailed.”
The second consultation event will take place after the Christmas break, on Thursday January 10, from 2.30pm to 7pm at the Village Centre.
Information will be available online at www.DePol.co.uk or on the Wyre Council Masterplan Consultation page http://www.wyre.gov.uk/info/200317/planning_policy/1241/masterplans. Comments can be made until the consultation close on January 22 at 5pm.
Following the consultation events, a final masterplan proposal will be drawn up and submitted to Wyre Borough Council’s cabinet for approval.
Councillor Michael Vincent, Portfolio Holder for Planning and Economic Development for Wyre Borough Council said: “This masterplan will help ensure the site is brought forward in a comprehensive and cohesive manner, in line with the requirements of our local plan. The preparation of masterplans is a new approach to development in Wyre ensuring stakeholders and the local community shape proposals. Through this process we hope to achieve high quality and well thought out development which provides the community with the facilities and amenities it needs. We want to hear from the local community and stakeholders on the proposals before the final masterplan is brought before Cabinet.”
The Local Plan allocation covers 33 hectares, and includes land to the south of Copp Lane which already has planning permission for 183 homes and a health centre. As part of this masterplan process, the location of the new health centre would move to the north of Copp Lane.
