WAR OF WORDS ERUPTS OVER LANCASTER PLANS

18th March 2009

The company behind the redevelopment of part of Lancaster has been telling us why they're not going to be at the independent public inquiry set up to look at the plans.

Developer Centros is planning on breathing new life into the Canal Corridor North site.
They say they don't need to be at the inquiry, as the plans have been well received by most local people, with the exception of what they're calling "a small minority objector group - It's Our City".

The company's frustrated with the Government though, who've called in the plans after concerns were highlighted by local campaigners and the English Heritage group, over the need to knock down some old buildings to make way for the development.

Bosses say the Government has put a handful of mediocre unlisted buildings above the delivery of the scheme which would create a thousand new jobs.

Centros says it's a contradiction of Government policies and all economic initiatives aimed at pulling the UK out of recession.

Richard Wise, chief executive of Centros, explained: “Having been lobbied by English Heritage and local minority objector group “It’s Our City”, the Government has effectively valued a handful of mediocre unlisted buildings above the delivery of a major regeneration scheme and a thousand new jobs. This is a complete contradiction of its policies and all the economic initiatives aimed at pulling the country out of recession.”

He went on to add: “If the Government really wants to deliver much-needed regeneration for our city centres – especially in the current economic climate – then it must look carefully at both how it can encourage such development and reduce the level of bureaucracy hindering its delivery.  Further expenditure on our Lancaster planning application at this time would affect the scheme delivery and jeopardise some of the community benefits, and therefore there is no point in us spending up to another million pounds to be represented at the inquiry. While remaining fully committed to the project and Lancaster, we will simply await the outcome and only then decide how to progress the scheme further.”

But local campaign group "It's Our City" has told The Bay it's surprised that at a time of budget cuts across the board, including £54,000 cut from the children and young people’s budget, Lancaster City Council is intending to spend £50,000 of public money on defending the scheme.

The campaign group claims the developer is no longer committed to it, as demonstrated by their decision not to appear at the inquiry.

That's been denied by Centros today, which believes the Lancaster planning application should continue to stand on its own merits, saying it's already stood up to extensive public scrutiny during a lengthy planning process that culminated in a special two-day planning committee and a 15 to 4 vote in favour of it. Bosses have therefore decided not to be represented at the inquiry.

But campaigners say this is a chance for Lancaster City Council to give up on what they're calling "an outdated scheme" and instead to work on new plans for the Canal Corridor which are appropriate for Lancaster.