Do you need a Lancashire Architect?

Our experience of being Architects Lancashire.

There are several local planning authorities within Lancashire, and as Architects and Planners have undertaken work in a large proportion of them including:

• Fylde Borough Council (Examples include conversion of a Victorian detached property in Lytham St. Annes into high-end apartments – the penthouse valued at over £1m, Windsports Centre)
• Wyre Borough Council (Several schemes including Apartments in Garstang, Cinema and Leisure complex in Cleveleys)
• Blackpool Council (change of use and house extensions)
• Lancaster City Council (including planning approval for 18 houses on greenfield site outside of the settlement boundary)
• West Lancashire Borough Council (including replacement dwelling in the Green Belt)
• Preston City Council. Including projects in the Docks area.
• Chorley Council
• Blackburn with Darwen Council
• South Ribble Borough Council

We have both worked, together, and separately in the County on many projects, and have obtained planning permission in Lancashire with several council areas. Projects include apartment schemes, leisure schemes, commercial projects, family homes, house extensions, new build and conversions among others.

Large parts of the county, particularly to the south of the county where urban sprawl to Merseyside and Manchester are being kept separate, are designated as Green Belt. The Ribble Valley and West Lancashire have a large proportion classed as green belt. In addition around Blackpool, Lancaster and the Fylde coasts there are pockets of green belt to prevent the larger urban areas from expanding.

What’s our connection to the County – the making of a Lancashire Architect?

Gillian has spent almost half of her life living in Lancashire. She grew up in the north of the County and went to high school in Lancaster (the county town giving its name). Gillian had her first training to becoming an Architect in Lancashire and therefore the county has a special place in her heart. Consequently, when we were married Lancashire was the natural choice.

As her parents still live in the county, we visit the area frequently. Our children love the varied nature of the county. We spend a lot of time at the cost, whether at Morecambe Bay in Happy Mount Park or scooting (and latterly cycling) on the promenade or seeing Blackpool illuminations or going to the Pleasure Beach.

Equally, at home in the towns and cities, the Ashton Memorial is a favourite along with visiting Thomas and his friends at the East Lancs Railway in Bury.

As cycling is a good way of seeing the county and visiting places like Brockholes in Preston are great as there are off road tracks. Ultimately, we aim to do the Morecambe Bay Cycle Way going from Barrow in Furness to Glasson Dock. We may need to wait until the children are a little older though!