The removal of a site for development from the local plan has meant disappointment for Carnforth Council.

A key piece of land located between Windermere Road, approaching Nether Kellet, and Backlane, which was identified as a potential site for the development of hundreds of new homes has been effectively removed from the Lancaster City Council’s Local Plan.

The decision came after planning inspectors were concerned over the disruption the construction would bring to nearby residents, as well as the mineral value of the land.

Carnforth Council has been left dissatisfied with the decision.

Councillor Jim Grisenthwaite said: “Our view is that this decision is not a benefit for the community, and this is now a piece of blighted land. In the future it might be dug up anyway, so it’s not being saved.”

A potential developer of the land, H20 Urban LLP, based in London, had drawn up plans to build 500 homes on the identified land in Carnforth. This would comprise of 200 affordable and 300 market homes, a new primary school, a community sports hub, and a new home for Carnforth Rangers FC. This would also have included a new park and green network on the site.

The decision by the inspectors has been criticised for not taking in account the needs of the community.

The development of the land was expected to potentially attract more than 1,000 new residents.

The removal of the development from the plan will also deny the public new sporting and recreational facilities.

Carnforth Town Council said: “The council is bitterly disappointed that a key piece of land for the potential development of 500 new homes, many of them affordable, together with a new primary school, a community sports hub and a new home for Carnforth Rangers FC, has now effectively been removed from Lancaster City Council’s Local Plan following a decision by the Planning Inspectorate to safeguard the land for future mineral extraction.

“This decision by the Inspectorate takes no account of the needs of our community for new starter homes for purchase and for rent and it denies hundreds of our young people access to sporting and recreational facilities.

"It effectively sets back the development of the town in the interests of mineral extraction at some indeterminate date in the future.

"We will be doing our utmost to bring pressure to bear on a number of different agencies, to put our present and demonstrable needs ahead of future and unspecified quarrying requirements.”