Plans have been submitted for a large mixed-use development in the UK seaside town of Lytham St Annes, featuring over 300 new homes, a supermarket, drive-thru restaurants, padel courts, and a care home.
The planning application, submitted by River Properties Ltd, proposes to transform a 37-acre farmland site just over one mile east of the town centre into a new neighbourhood. The development would be located close to the town centre and include a 52-apartment retirement living complex, a leisure hub, and six acres of public open space.
Development details and facilities
According to the application, the plans include commercial and leisure units, a children's play area, sustainable drainage systems, and a 66-bed residential care home. Of the 302 new homes, 30% will be designated as affordable housing.
The site, at Wildings Lane, will be accessible from Lytham St Annes Way. The proposed supermarket could measure up to 1,912 square metres, while the commercial and leisure unit could provide up to 2,322 square metres of floorspace. Two drive-thru units have also been proposed, which could be either restaurants or coffee shops, as reported by the Lancashire Telegraph.
Access and transport concerns
The developers have insisted the development will be accessible by walking, cycling, and public transport. A transport report states that a number of facilities are within walking distance, including Booths supermarket, the Ansdell Medical Centre, Clifton Primary School, and St Annes High School.
The development will connect to existing footways and cycle routes along Lytham St Annes Way. Bus services operate nearby, and Ansdell and Fairhaven railway station is just one and a quarter miles away.
However, there are concerns about local traffic, with some models predicting the Lytham St Annes Way and Blackpool Road junction will hit capacity issues by 2035. The planners have countered this by insisting the area is already under pressure and the new development will not add to the issue. Nearby junctions, including the A583 Preston New Road/Hallam Way roundabout and the Lytham St Annes Way/Whitehill Road/School Road/Cropper Road roundabout, will continue to operate within capacity with the development in place.
Background and local character
The latest proposals come after an earlier application for 550 homes and a local centre on the same site 10 years ago, which never progressed to a final decision.
It was previously reported by the Express that, despite its close proximity to Blackpool, Lytham St Annes is an entirely different town. Locals explained how it is "less frenetic" and has "one of the best beaches" around. The beach has miles of golden sand and is lined by iconic beach huts, and residents said it was far quieter than Blackpool and always kept clean.
St Annes Pier, built in 1885 at a cost of £18,000, was one of the first public buildings in St Annes. It was restored in 2018 and now features amusement games, with the open-air end offering coastal views across St Annes seafront and towards Blackpool.
