GREEN Lane East, Cabus, has been focus of much of the building boom over the past seven years, with up-market estates and scores of homes being built on Garstang's green and pleasant land.
An attractive new estate The Moorings close to the town centre, off Church Street, is nearing completion.
And it's not just Garstang which has seen the ever extending concrete jungle - the coastal strip between Knott End and Pilling Lane is now almost competely urban, while work on new homes at the former Pilling auction mart is expected soon.
Where next?
It's questions like that which Wyre Council has been looking at following the shake-up prompted by the introduction of the Regional Spatial Strategy (putting housing in a regional rather than county context) and the replacement of "Local Plans" with "Local Development Frameworks" (LDF).
As part of the LDF, a document with the rather wordy title Strategic Housing Land Assessment (HLAA) has to be drawn up.
Wyre's has just been adopted but - apart from the reference to the possibility of a permanent travelling showmen's site (deleted this week!) - has received little publicity, despite the intense interest in what could be happening to the proverbial field at the bottom of the garden...
The council says: "It is important to stress that this study is simply a theoretical study and is not a Development Plan Document so you cannot infer how a particular piece of land or building can or will be used."
The document itself says: "It is important to note that the identification of sites and their associated capacity does not constitute an allocation for housing."
But despite the disclaimers, the sites identified in Wyre's HLAA also have to be "specific, deliverable and ready for development - ie realistic."
So where are the sites "with potential for housing"? Below is the list from Wyre's
document.
Note: The number in brackets after the sites listed refers to the "constrained capacity" which the council defines as "the number of dwellings that could realistically be accomodated."
Consultation is planned on the council's strategies early next year.
Garstang and Bonds (seven sites):
Kepple Lane (88 dwellings) - a site previously considered for housing but now described as "open countryside." The site is described as "not currently developable" but still appears in the land availability document. The landowners are said to "desire housing development."
The former Windsor Road clinic site, empty since the clinic staff's move to the Kepple Lane health centre, though believed to have been sold by North Lancashire Primary Care Trust for the clinic to be converted into a private dental surgery. (5)
Land bordering of Larch Grove. The site is said to be too small for homes of a similar size to the rest of the street. (1)
The Superdrott site (4), at the rear of Bridge Street (next to the Royal Oak car park). The Wyre document says homes on the site "would not necessarily impact on the vitality of the town centre" and "access from Bridge Street and Park Hill Road would have to be improved." Cars currently parking there may have to park elsewhere in town.
Land between SS Mary and Michael RC Church and Rowan Close/Broadoak Avenue at the rear of properties near the Church Inn (5), though the council fears there could be access problems.
Between south of Castle Lane (9) one of the area's most exclusive residential districts, and the rear of homes on Greenacres Drive. Castle Lane leading to Greenhalgh Castle, is recognised as being narrow though "road widening may be feasible to a point."
The former Windsor Road surgery site (1), which is currently being redeveloped with several homes. The site, next to the Co-op chemists has been boarded up for several months.
Catterall (five sites):
Lancaster Old Road. Two sites are identified, the vacant commerical garage (1), and a vacant grazing plot (1) said to be "suitable for infill."
Land north of Stones Lane (4), used for grazing/equestrian activity, is described as "defined open space" and "not currently developable" but the settlement boundary could be extended to incorporate the site.
Also described as "not currently developable" are the former Brierkrete site (63) and the old Knacker's yard (18), where plans for a maggot farm have been rejected by the government.
Barton (one site)
Some parts of the A6 village lie in Wyre and some in Preston. Land next to 739 Garstang Road (2) is included on Wyre's list.
Bilsborrow (two sites)
A large maize field between the railway and A6. (17) It is currently greenfield but the settlement boundary could extended to incorporate it.
Land off Bilsborrow Lane opposite Threlfall's Farm (2).
Bowgreave (three sites)
Two neighbouring plots - one off Bowgreave Drive (5) and one off Garstang Road (6). The third plot is off Dew Forest/Broom Field (1)
Calder Vale (one site)
Run-down, underused buildings near the village centre, within the conservation area south of Albert Terrace (1) though it is close to the steep hill and "any development would have to have regard to physical constraints."
Forton (one site)
The field off Wallace Lane (1), next to the electricity sub-station.
Great Eccleston (eight sites)
Land north of 7 Lancaster Avenue (1); a garage/coach house north of Leckonby House (1); a warehouse rear of the General Store (1); land north of Curzon Villa, Halsall Square (currently outbuildings) (1); the car park at the Farmer's Arms (it is suggested that the car park is possibly oversized and parking can be acommodated on a smaller car park) (2); east of High Gates (land described as an overgrown vacant plot with many trees) (1); east of Fylde View, Back Lane (land also described as an overgrown vacant plot with many trees) (1), and a field west of East Croft, Back Lane (4).
Hambleton (seven sites)
Scrub land at The Conifers (1); chicken sheds south of Ellesmere, Kiln Lane (7); the car park of the Shovels Inn, Kiln Lane (3); a vacant plot off Sherbourne Road (1); derelict wasteland off Church Lane used as a church car park (4); a large field off Arthurs Lane (13); an unmaintained playing field east of Dineklyn, Marsh Lane (5).
Hollins Lane (two sites)
Greenfield land at the junction of Hollins Lane and the A6 (3); a field opposite Primrose Villa (perhaps for affordable homes) (5)
Knott End/Preesall (9 sites)
In infill plot south of Wavertree, Hackensall Road (1); a vacant plot south of 35 Hackensall Road (1); land next to Larkholme off Lancaster Road (1); the United Utilities site off Pilling Lane (11); a field east of Meadow Avenue (21); a field at the end of Beechfield Avenue (5); a garage/land at Ashton Avenue (2); land at 65 The Esplanade (1); land off Cherry Tree Close/Pilling Lane (4).
Pilling (eight sites)
Two neighbouring sites next to Carr Close, Smallwood Hey (3 and 2); land south of Thorn Bank, Dam Side (2); land at Broadfleet Close (3); land off Taylor's Lane (14); land next to Meadowdene, Stakepool (5); land off Lancaster Road, Stakepool (9); land next to Brooklands, Garstang Road,
Stakepool (2).
Preesall Hill (one site)
Outbuildings and and informal equestrian area rear of Field Place Lodge, Cartgate (7)
Scorton (one site)
The informal parking area at the rear of the post office, The Square (5).
Stalmine (four sites)
A barn next to Ash Lea, Carr End (1); a field next to Stalmine Primary School (4); parking land at Birch Grove (2); land next to Pennine View, Mill Lane (2)
St Michaels (two sites)
Land next to Garstang Road (A586) (5); a depot on Garstang Road (A586) (3)