Planning permission granted for homes in ‘area of outstanding beauty’

Lancaster-based HPA Chartered Architects has been awarded planning permission for 25 new houses on a brownfield site, a former farm in the picturesque village of Warton, within the Arnside and Silverdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).

Inspired by a village green and farm courtyard layout, the new Warton Grange Farm homes will be a contemporary take on traditional neighbouring rural dwellings, featuring local materials homes and enjoying stunning views to nearby Warton Crag.

Varying in size between one-bed apartments and five-bed family homes, the majority will be three-bed or smaller homes, in order to meet local housing requirements.

With generous living accommodation and plenty of natural light, HPA’s signature high standards of insulation will ensure they are energy-efficient and cost-effective to run.

The permission is the culmination of a five-year process, working closely with Lancaster City Council, to develop an attractive sustainable scheme for a challenging site.

The houses at Warton Grange Farm will be built by South Lakeland-based Wilson & Co Properties, whose previous work with HPA includes 25 houses at nearby Moss Bank Place in Warton.

The scheme will also bring local infrastructure improvements to benefit the wider community, including the creation of a new pedestrian connection between Main Street and Mill Lane.

More than 200 trees will be planted as part of the development using native species for the area.

The Castle Hill practice, which celebrated 40 years in Lancaster in 2019, said this decision will provide much-needed homes in a popular and scenic location.

This underlines its commitment to making a positive contribution to the AONB by improving a former brownfield site.