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Plans for a new lock-up storage facility for residents and businesses near the River Lune have been given the go-ahead.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n The plans for 474 storage units in 21 blocks in a former builder’s merchants yard on New Quay Road in Lancaster were given planning permission on Monday.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Proposals include a security building, boundary fencing and creation of access roads\/parking.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n The units would be accessible to customers 24 hours a day.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n The Lancaster City Council planning regulatory committee voted to grant planning permission, by 10 votes to one, with three councillors abstaining, during a meeting at Morecambe Town Hall.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n The site was once the location of Lancaster\u2019s Isolation Hospital. Buildings on-site from the buider’s yard were demolished a couple of years ago.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n The land is close to Freeman’s Wood, and Councillor Mandy Bannon, Green ward councillor for Marsh, said at Monday’s meeting that “we aim to preserve this green space as a natural haven for wildlife for people to enjoy”.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Councillor Bannon said “deers, badgers, hedgehogs, hares and bats live in or near the wood” and there were also otters and waterbirds nearby.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n She said floodlighting at the 24-hour facility could cause harm to the wildlife.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Eleanor Levin, from the LightAware charity, also spoke out about plans for “blue-rich LED lighting” at the site, objecting due to the potential effects on public health.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n A council report, published before the meeting, said: “The site would be externally illuminated, in a location in close proximity to neighbouring ecological sites and public walking\/wheeling routes.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n “Light pollution can harm habitats and enjoyment\/use of open space, and should be controlled to avoid adverse impact, particularly in this sensitive riverside location.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n “The proposed lighting is solely to the previously developed land area, and a light spill plan demonstrates how artificial lighting would be directed within the site, and limits light spill with cowls proposed to restrict light spilling beyond the site.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n “Such mitigation, combined with limiting illumination to movements and\/or time when customers are accessing the site between dusk\/dawn is considered to avoid harm through external lighting, with no adverse comment received from Environmental Health regarding lighting.”<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Hayley Knight, representing the applicant New Quay Lancaster Ltd, spoke in favour of the plans, saying they “would tidy up an otherwise unkempt site and bring it back into use”.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Council planning officers recommended the scheme be granted permission following the satisfactory completion of a legal agreement to secure a \u00a315,000 contribution to off-site highway projects and improvements, and other conditions.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n The report said: “The proposal seeks to develop and provide an active use of an existing derelict plot of brownfield land adjacent to the River Lune. This would help deliver some of the aims for the regeneration of the area and the more specific development opportunity site.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n “The proposal will result in tree removals, biodiversity impacts, increasing in vehicle movements and drainage implications. However, it has been demonstrated through the application that such matters can be addressed and mitigated through conditions and obligations to avoid harm, and achieve a neutral impact with regard to these matters.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n “As such, the benefits of the effective use of brownfield land and positive contribution to the regeneration aspirations for the area are considered to weigh in favour of approval, in the absence of any substantial harm individually nor cumulatively from the proposed development.”<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n