I welcome today’s decision by Lancashire County Council, Lancaster City Council and Homes England to suspend work on the Bailrigg Garden Village. Whilst recognising the need to build new homes in our district I was always concerned that the size, scale and environmental impact proposed for development was a poor choice for meeting that need. I welcome the decision to suspend further work on the Bailrigg Garden Village but I urge all parties work to deliver new transport solutions, particularly to relieve the congestion in Galgate and the address the air quality issues the village faces.

The plans for the project included new education, health, utilities and active travel and bus provision. We continue to need education provision in the south of Lancaster, and I will look to work constructively with Lancashire County Council to find solutions to the pressure on school places.

I welcome the Councils and Homes England saying it is still an aspiration to develop plans for the city and south Lancaster to tackle longstanding traffic issues, and that it is the aim to work with the local community to develop future proposals.