A planning application has been submitted for a new over 55s community in Lancaster described as "a step back in time to when everyone knew their neighbours".
The plans are for 14 mobile homes on derelict land between Forge Lane and Mill Lane in Halton, close to an existing co-housing scheme at Forgebank Walk.
Applicants Halton Seniors Cohousing said that cohousing is "a creative response to ageing" "where each household is personal and private but residents come together to manage their community and share activities".
The proposal also includes creating two new communal buildings and associated parking, access, engineering operations, and utilities installation.
"This is an innovative, community led project for over 55s who want to live as part of a caring, sharing, connected residential community," said a statement issued with the application, to Lancaster City Council.
"Together, with Agile, we have created a new innovative housing model. At this time of crisis in the world, we need to be bold enough to challenge the systems that have become ‘business as usual’. What kind of towns and communities are we building? This is a model for aging well, as part of a caring, sharing, connected residential community where residents want to live as active participants in a group of similar aged people who have shared values.
"We are aiming to create homes that respect the planet – constructed with materials that don’t pollute and destroy surrounding ecosystems. We are aiming to create homes that are healthy for people – free from toxic materials and built to avoid future issues like damp. We are aiming to create homes that go beyond houses – offering spaces that support community and a sense of belonging. This project is constructed with bio-based, breathable materials, with minimal concrete—a rare approach in the UK. What makes it even more meaningful is that these homes give a dignified and stable place for those over 55 to live.
"HSCG want a new, creative response to ageing and, at the same time, take a step back in time to when everyone knew and interacted with their neighbours. The communal way of life is illustrated through the communal gardens weaving their way through site, with an exposed rainwater distribution system across the length of the site.
"The site will be managed in the same way as a mobile home site. All homes will be designed and delivered under the terms of the Caravan Act. The single storey, one and two bedroom homes will comply with the Caravan Act in terms of size, construction and mobility. But importantly they will perform better than a ‘normal’ home and better than the mobile homes that many people live in. The proposal will deliver 14 x one and two bedroom homes to meet local housing need for smaller, affordable homes for older people
"There are shared common spaces: including the common houses and the gardens and paths. A communal pedestrian street runs down the centre of the scheme with rills and rain gardens creating a calm and peaceful shared space. Private homes and gardens are angled to create semi private nooks while still allowing incidental interactions for residents throughout the day.
"Lancaster City Council declared a Climate Emergency in 2019 and adopted its Climate Emergency Local Plan Review (CELPR) in Jan 2025, which embeds climate action within the planning policy framework. The Halton Senior Cohousing Group’s proposal directly supports this agenda by delivering a development that is low carbon in design, construction and operation, and supports a more sustainable way of living.
"Haltons Seniors Cohousing is a group of people of varying ages (all over 55), some couples and some singles who wish to live in a community together. This is a group of people committed to initiating and living in an ecological senior cohousing project in Halton. The future householders are fully committed to living in the community and have been involved in all stages of the design and project development.
"The land was previously open farmland and forms part of the wider Halton Mills site.
"There is clearly strong support for the proposal, not only in terms of policy support in the Local Plan, but also in meeting local housing needs in an innovative way. Importantly there is 100% support for the proposal from local residents that have chosen to engage and publicise their feelings about the project."
Lancaster City Council will make a decision on whether to grant planning permission, in due course.
The plans can be seen at lancaster.gov.uk in the planning section, reference number 26/00317/FUL.
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