"Clock ticking" as former MP calls for High Court action on A6 new homes decision

A former MP has called for an urgent legal review after a government inspector gave the green light to plans to build up to 200 new homes near the A6.

David Morris said the decision was "a deeply disappointing blow for residents across Bolton-le-Sands and Slyne-with-Hest".

This comes after the planning inspector has allowed a developer's appeal and granted outline planning permission for the scheme, with conditions, in fields west of the A6 at Slyne Road.

There were huge public objections to the new housing plans and planning permission was refused by Lancaster City Council earlier this year.

But Carla Livingstone, planning inspector, said in a report published on Wednesday that the proposed new homes at 'Lapwing Fields' did "not represent inappropriate development in the Green Belt".

Lizzi Collinge, Morecambe and Lunesdale MP, and Lancaster City Council have also reacted to the appeal decision.

Ms Collinge said she understood "local residents wanting new developments to be closely scrutinised" and had fed back concerns to the Government, but that "every part of our district needs to be part of the solution" to the housing crisis.

And Councillor Sandra Thornberry, chair of the council planning committee who initially refused planning permission, said they "respect the inspector's decision".

Last November, Mr Morris and other campaigners handed in a petition against the plans, signed by more than 2,700 people, at 10 Downing Street.

The former MP for Morecambe and Lunesdale said after the appeal decision was announced on Tuesday, that a High Court action would be required in an attempt to overturn the decision, and that he'd be taking the fight to Westminster.

A Planning Inspectorate decision can be challenged in the High Court within six weeks of the decision date.

"Today’s decision is a deeply disappointing blow for residents across Bolton-le-Sands and Slyne-with-Hest," he said.

"I helped to stop this 10 years ago with the Lapwings Community Group and now it’s back.

"Because the Inspector’s decision letter has now been published, the clock is ticking.

"We have until December 23 to determine whether the inspector made an error of law that can be challenged in the High Court.

"I have written to (Mark Davies) the Chief Executive of Lancaster City Council today urging the council to instruct a specialist planning King’s Counsel immediately, and I am working with parish councils, local councillors, and community campaigners to ensure we leave no stone unturned before the deadline expires."

David Morris, and Lesley Bryan and Diane Archbold from the Friends of Lapwing Fields, handing in a petition at Number 10 in November 2025

Mr Morris, who is the prospective Conservative Parliamentary candidate, also attacked the Labour government over its 'grey belt' policy, after the inspector's report said the proposed new homes at 'Lapwing Fields' did "not represent inappropriate development in the Green Belt".

In UK town and country planning, grey belt is a policy classification for lower-quality or previously developed land located within the protected Green Belt.

Established more than 70 years ago, the Green Belt was designed to limit the growth of large built-up areas, and to stop large towns merging into one another.

If a council's housing targets cannot be met, some existing green belt land will be re-designated as grey belt to free up land for the construction of new homes.

"Once again, national 'grey belt' rules are being used to erode the distinct identity and green space separating our villages," said Mr Morris.

"This Government beguiled everyone initially stating this legislation was introduced to build only on car parks and such areas, not green fields or spaces.

"The local Labour MP (Lizzi Collinge) stated this in the election of 2024 in a Beyond Radio interview*."

*Read more in our June 2024 pre-general election debate between candidates, including Lizzi Collinge and David Morris, at the link below

GENERAL ELECTION: David Morris and Gina Dowding clash over housing in Morecambe & Lunesdale - Beyond Radio

Lizzi Collinge MP

Ms Collinge, in response, said:

“I totally understand local residents wanting new developments to be closely scrutinised and having concerns about changes to their area.

"I have met with members of the group which opposes the development to make sure I understand their concerns and have made sure these are fed back up to the Government. 

“I have also read the full appeal text and it's clear that this new development will contribute significantly to our local housing need, not least because it has to have, under the Government’s Golden Rules, at least 45 per cent affordable homes.

"At least 20 per cent of homes also have to be fully accessible for older or disabled residents. This is a large part of why it meets the test for development, alongside a biodiversity net gain of at least 10% and contributions to local infrastructure. 

“Every day I see the impact of the housing crisis on our local area and every part of our district needs to be part of the solution.

"Local families are really struggling to find affordable homes to rent or buy.

"We're losing young people from our towns and villages because they can't afford to live there, and businesses struggle to get enough staff because of the cost of housing.”

Lancaster City Council Planning Regulatory Committee met to discuss the proposals on February 16 2026 at Morecambe Town Hall.

Council officers had recommended that the outline planning application be approved, saying the site was no longer green belt but 'grey belt' land.

But a majority of the committee of councillors disagreed, voting 10 to three to refuse planning permission, with two abstaining.

Councillor Sandra Thornberry, chair of the planning regulatory committee and a Labour councillor, said this week: “In reaching their decision, members of the committee carefully considered the application and all the planning issues and representations that had been made both by the applicant and the local community.

Councillor Sandra Thornberry

“Although members may disagree, we respect the inspector’s decision to reach a different conclusion. 

"The granting of outline planning permission means that the applicant may now proceed to submitting a Reserved Matters application for the specific detail of the development. 

"However, the principle of development has now been established by the Planning Inspectorate’s appeal decision. 

“The subsequent stages of the development will be considered through the normal planning process.”

Lesley Bryan, spokesperson for the Friends of Lapwing Fields campaign group, formed in May 2025 to fight against the plans, said this week they were "extremely disappointed" by the decision.

Land near the A6 at Bolton-le-Sands

"This is a deeply disappointing outcome for everyone who has worked so hard to protect these fields and the important green gap between Bolton-le-Sands and Slyne-with-Hest," she said.

"More than 500 objections were submitted to the original planning application, thousands of local people signed our petition, and many residents have spent months making their concerns known about the loss of green belt, landscape and wildlife habitat, the impact on local infrastructure and the erosion of the separation between our communities.

"We want to thank every single person who supported the campaign — those who wrote objections, signed the petition, donated, attended meetings, shared our posts, displayed banners and simply stood with us in trying to protect this land.

"Although this decision is a major setback, we are not going to pretend that the concerns raised by the community have simply disappeared. We will carefully study the Inspector’s decision and the conditions attached to any permission, and we will consider what options remain available to us."

Beyond Radio has contacted Warren Cadman, from developers Wrenman Strategic Land who made the appeal, who said he did not wish to comment.

The inspector's report addressed many points raised by campaigners.

It concluded: "In the context of the Government objective to significantly boost the supply of homes, the development of up to 200 dwellings would make a positive contribution towards housing in the area.

"Policies...make provision for the development of grey belt land in certain circumstances.

"In this instance the development relates to grey belt land that meets the (planning policy) Golden Rules as defined within the (National Planning Policy) Framework.

"As such it does not represent inappropriate development in the Green Belt."

You can read more from the planning inspector's decision at the link below.

Read more: Controversial housing plan in fields near A6 given green light after appeal - Beyond Radio