Cllrs postpone decision on Urban Splash’s Morecambe plan

LANCASTER City Council has deferred a decision on Urban Splash’s ambitious plans to revamp Morecambe’s Central Promenade.

The Manchester developer, which renovated the town’s landmark Midland Hotel, has spent several years working on plans for the 7.5 hectare site.

But there were 250 objections to the proposals and Lancaster City Council’s planning officers concluded that the scheme was “excessive” and would have a “dominating and overbearing impact”, on the area.

Councillors in the city were advised to refuse the application but decided to postpone a decision after Urban Splash wrote to the council to say amended plans would be submitted by March.

The company’s original plans included seven new buildings containing a visitor attraction, more than 600 apartments, 20 beach houses and 120,000 sq ft of retail and commercial space. The plans also included 240,000 sq ft of new public spaces.