Plans that will see a major revamp and upgrade to a traveller’s site in Morecambe are set to be approved at a meeting later this month.
The proposal to redevelop Mellishaw Park would see the demolition of existing buildings, reconfiguration of the existing 19 pitch traveller site to continue to provide 19 traveller pitches, erection of 9 semi-detached amenity buildings and a landlord/caretaker building, associated internal roads, amenity area, foul drainage infrastructure upgraded, a flood ramp at the site entrance and boundary fencing.
A report that will be considered by Lancaster City Council, who own the site at Heaton With Oxcliffe, states that the works will aim to provide a minimum of 19 pitches to ensure all of the existing residents can return to the site. These pitches would provide more substantial, better equipped and more energy efficient amenity buildings for each family.
A ‘well-considered’ site layout and a safer road layout on the site, aiming to avoid a continuous ‘ring road’ arrangement, would provide a safer and more usable amenity space.
The existing site has been in operation since the early 1980s and up until recently was owned and operated by Lancashire County Council. The site is now owned and run by Lancaster City Council, and is the only Council owned Gypsy and Traveller site in the District.
The report also states that the site has been in a state of disrepair for a number of years and the internal accommodation is well below modern standards. The existing amenity blocks suffer from rising damp, inadequate heating provision and inadequate ventilation. T
There are also ongoing problems with the foul drainage ’network’ within the northern part of the site and antiquated electrical distribution and lighting.
The report concludes that the proposed layout, scale, appearance and landscaping satisfactorily addresses planning sustainability and development requirements and policies of the development plan. The scheme will improve residential amenity and provide a much needed upgrade to a long established site. The flood resilience of the site will be improved and the additional proposed planting and biodiversity enhancements are a further benefit of the proposal. As such the application can be viewed favourably.
The proposal will be discussed by Council on August 15, and can be viewed in full here


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