Tour de France and Eden Project among priorities as Lancaster City Council sets out two-year vision

Preparing for next year's Tour de France and the arrival of the Eden Project are among the priorities agreed by Lancaster City Council for the next two years.

The Council Plan - the council's primary strategic document - was approved unanimously by councillors and sets out the priority objectives and outcomes the council aims to deliver on behalf of the community.

The council said the plan's four guiding principles are a sustainable district, an inclusive and prosperous local economy, healthy and happy communities, and a co-operative, kind and responsible council.

The plan also outlines a number of high-profile projects which the council said have "the potential to transform the lives of communities and the local economy".

These include work on decarbonisation and energy resilience, the regeneration of Morecambe through the Morecambe Masterplan, Eden Project Morecambe and Pride in Place - Morecambe West End, a Prosperity Strategy for a thriving district, affordable housing schemes in Skerton and the Canal Quarter, improved visitor experience at Williamson Park and City Museums, preparations for the Tour de France 2027, place based working through established partnerships, and community engagement and empowerment.

“The revised Council Plan provides us with a clear and achievable focus for actions over the next two years that demonstrates our continued commitment to ensuring the district remains a great place to live, work and visit," said Councillor Caroline Jackson, leader of Lancaster City Council (below).

“At the same time, this grants us the opportunity to influence the direction of the future authority whilst it beds in, so that our district can continue to reap the benefits that we set in motion.

“While forward planning remains essential, the revised plan builds upon the achievements of the former Council Plan, and we acknowledge and value the significant progress made to date by officers, members and working with local stakeholders.

“We look forward to delivering the ambitions set out in the plan and continuing to provide high quality services for our communities.”

The council said the plan was developed as a consequence of Local Government Reorganisation to guarantee alignment of council priorities with evolving strategic objectives.

The Council Plan 2026-28 is available to read HERE.

The world's greatest cycle race - the Tour de France - is set to pass through the Lancaster and Morecambe district in 2027.

Stage two of the 'Grand Depart route' in the tour - one of the most widely watched sporting events in the world - will pass through the Lancaster district and some of its most iconic locations on July 3 next year.

En route from Keswick to Liverpool, cyclists will ride through Milnthorpe, Carnforth, Bolton le Sands, Hest Bank, Morecambe, Lancaster and then to Jubilee Tower on the edge of the Forest of Bowland - to be renamed Cote de Jubilee Tower for the occasion.

The event is expected to attract thousands of visitors and be a major boost for the economy, including hospitality and tourism.

The plan says it will have a "suite of additional outcomes for health, well-being, community and the economy".

Eden Project Morecambe is a major new landmark attraction on the Promenade. Work is set to begin this summer, with a scheduled opening date of late 2028. The city council is a partner in the scheme.

A design image for the Eden Project Morecambe

"Eden Project Morecambe will supplement the council’s objective of regenerating Morecambe, bringing employment, investment and raising the profile of the town," says the plan.

The Pride in Place government programme will see money spent on improvement schemes to the West End of Morecambe.

The plan says that "£1.9 million (is) due to be invested into the West End of Morecambe between 2026-2028, with an expected £20m of investment over 10 years.

"All investment decisions will be decided by the local community."

The council is aiming to deliver new housing schemes on the site of the former Skerton High School, and in the Canal Quarter area of Lancaster where major regeneration is being planned.

The plan says their aims are "to provide comfortable, thermally efficient housing for social and affordable rent, to increase rented accommodation at social and affordable rents, to reduce CO2 emissions in line with Net Zero ambition and to increase city centre residency".

In 2024, Lancaster City Council began a tender process to find a development partner for the long-derelict Frontierland theme park site in Morecambe.

The boarded up Frontierland site in Morecambe, pictured earlier this year

"Our objective for the Frontierland site is to bring forward a hospitality and leisure-led development that helps to reinvigorate this part of the seafront and supports Morecambe’s wider regeneration," said the plan. 

On Williamson Park, the plan says the council aims to deliver a "brand-new facility for visitors next to Ashton Memorial and Butterfly House - creating a café and meeting place with world class views".

On the City Museum, the plan says: "The council is aiming to redevelop the City Museum to create more space for exhibitions and update the visitor experience.

"We are also improving the Cottage Museum to enhance its appeal. The projects recognise the significance of heritage in the district, both for visitors and residents."

The council said the plan was developed as a consequence of the upcoming Local Government Reorganisation to guarantee alignment of council priorities with evolving strategic objectives.

Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) refers to the process of changing how councils are structured and how local services are delivered. In Lancashire it will see the replacement of the current two-tier system (county and district councils) with new unitary authorities that deliver all local services in one area.

Under LGR, separate councils will be replaced by a single unitary authority for each area. The new council will run all local services, aiming to simplify governance, improve efficiency, and deliver better services for residents

The Council Plan 2026-28 is available to read HERE.