O/T Kingsway flats

[Christies Child]

Now that the finished structure can be seen as it nears completion, what do people think of its appearance?

Personally I think it's excellent and a really attractive looking structure as a gateway to the City.

The ochre colour of the external elevations will not be to everybodies liking. But for me it's making a bold statement and is a welcome addition to compliment some of the citys historical architecture that many people are unaware of.

[greenshrimp]

Modern and bold and I think it looks great and gives a real positive impression when entering Lancaster. Shame the rest of that stretch (farmfoods, sunlight etc.) isn't being improved to a similar quality.

A lot of criticism has come from those scared to stray away from the s.q which is sad as this is what has caused the problems for the centros development which I believe would bring so much to the city and help it compete against the likes of Preston. That with the improvements and increased popularity of Morecambe would help make the district capitalise on the revival of uk tourism as fewer travel abroad. We have a great historic city with so much to show - lets make the most of it.

[morecambe mick]

I could be wrong, but I thought Sunlight were to relocate to White Lund.

[George Dawes]

that area is still a eyesore in my opinion. for people first visiting Lancaster



id rather have had them demolish all of that block, and built a "FLY OVER" for Morecambe traffic to help ease congestion, like LCC once looked at 10/15 yrs ago


but because there's loads of students in Lancaster they got on to environmentalists who opposed it saying it's a listed building, just like they oppose anything because thats what students are suppose to do..

[P/T Indie]

I can't believe anyone would buy them thehy might be nice but who on earth would want to live in the middle of the one way system. Open your window and smell all those nice exhaust fumes on a nice sunny day.

[George Dawes]

I can't believe anyone would buy them thehy might be nice but who on earth would want to live in the middle of the one way system. Open your window and smell all those nice exhaust fumes on a nice sunny day.

imagine nipping out for some milk, or going to the gym then finding yourself stuck in traffic because it's gridlocked round there

[marky No.1]

I can't believe anyone would buy them thehy might be nice but who on earth would want to live in the middle of the one way system. Open your window and smell all those nice exhaust fumes on a nice sunny day.

It is amazing the premium that is charged for a view of water. Whether it be sea, river, stream or lake. As for a muddy estuary tho I'm not quite sure. No doubt the viewing times are all based around high tide

Just think in 200 years time the people in the top apartments will be able to walk out onto their patio straight into their boat when the rest of us have long gone into the sea bed

[halfwayliner]

Well i think it looks like a bloody scrapyard on the side. At least there's plenty of room for the washing.

[eggchaser]

I can't believe anyone would buy them thehy might be nice but who on earth would want to live in the middle of the one way system. Open your window and smell all those nice exhaust fumes on a nice sunny day.

The council are apparently looking at completely turning the traffic system on its head around there and the normally gridlocked road is supposedly being turned into a two way road and they may be letting cars turn right towards Lancaster when you come over the bridge instead of going all the way round the back of the old baths buses use that route now so i dont see why cars shouldn't be able to aswell.

[Posh]

I could be wrong, but I thought Sunlight were to relocate to White Lund.

That was the original plan but its all fallen through.

that area is still a eyesore in my opinion. for people first visiting Lancaster

I agree completely. There is one company wanting to do something about it and that's Lancaster Property Network. They've acquired most of the land to the left of Back Caton Road including the old Kay Shoes factory and dubbed it Lawson's Quay. http://www.lawsonsquay.co.uk.

Over the last six months or more they've been doing everything they can, in the face of full-blown recession, to get the land developed. The good news is that they are about to announce a major hotel scheme for the land right at the end where the traffic merges by Halfords / Currys etc.

The problem is the right hand side between Parliament Street and Back Caton Road. This is largely controlled by one local family who seem happy just to sit on the land and let it run down. They make an income from some businesses such as Sunlight etc. but surely they can see what an utter disgrace it is. Of course the City Council just sit back and do nothing about this while effectively committing hari-kari with the Centros scheme.

The site is basically the geographic centre of the district. Pretty much all traffic crosses this point, including over 20 bus routes. To me it should be used by the health service or the council itself given its excellent position.

Of course I'm biased as I work with LPN on the marketing of the project.

[Posh]

The council are apparently looking at completely turning the traffic system on its head around there and the normally gridlocked road is supposedly being turned into a two way road and they may be letting cars turn right towards Lancaster when you come over the bridge instead of going all the way round the back of the old baths buses use that route now so i dont see why cars shouldn't be able to aswell.

Not quite accurate. The changes, which were intended if the Centros scheme went ahead and that's unlikely, are as follows:

Skerton Bridge traffic to Centros - back of baths and then new road to car park on St Leonardsgate

Skerton Bridge traffic to rest of Lancaster - as now but no option to go on to Greyhound Bridge

M6 traffic to Morecambe - would go in front of Parliament Street and then over bridge.

[greenshrimp]

imagine nipping out for some milk, or going to the gym then finding yourself stuck in traffic because it's gridlocked round there

The flats are targetted at those who want to take up the concept of city living, so are unlikely to drive into town or to the shops for a pint of milk, in fact I imagine few living here will make regular use of a car.

I can't believe anyone would buy them thehy might be nice but who on earth would want to live in the middle of the one way system. Open your window and smell all those nice exhaust fumes on a nice sunny day.

As mentioned elsewhere, I think the council have aspirations to chnage the traffic flow in this area, so these could prove a good buy now (particuarly whilst peoperty prices are at a low) so if the traffice system does change, they'll see a nice little increase.

Again, there are still a lot of people who are interested in the city living concept and whilst there aren't many similar developents in Lancaster (the newish development next to the town hall is probably closest), go to any large city in the country and you'll notice there are many many people who don't mind living next to much larger highways.

Here's an example in Manchester, although the focus is on the environmental architecture of the building aiming for an excellent BREEAM rating (something i'd love to see more of) http://www.building.co.uk/story.asp?storycode=3118782.

[heysham_mfc]

it looks better than just having a boarded up biulding

[Mark S]

I drive past the 'development' everyday and have watched it proceed with hope.

I love the design and potential lifestyle opportunities that will be available to people who would not normally have them.

However.... Who the heck agreed the colour? What an eyesore!

[PUNKISDEAD]

it looks like the baddies house off a james bond film, if you go through torrisholme there is a nice farmhouse with a carbuncle on the front, i believe the owners husband is employed by the council, scale hall circa 1640( no wcalled the farmhouse tavern) 1has a conservatory bigger than the pub, its not who you know , in my humble opinion, i think the gateway to lancaster actually prewarns people what the rest of our bumhole has to offer

[Abbo]

I think it looks like a prison

[Gnasher]

I think it looks like a prison

The narrow slits for windows as you approach from Caton Rd certainly give that impression. We were wondering how much light would get into those rooms.

[Abbo]

Im waiting for the show appartments to open then im going to have a look just for curiosity

[Christies Child]

I think it looks like a prison

The narrow slits for windows as you approach from Caton Rd certainly give that impression. We were wondering how much light would get into those rooms.

Could they be in fact the bedroom/s where it's not that necessary to have as much light as say the living rooms?

Alternatively they might be the bathrooms.

I still find the building attractive and personally the colour of the cladding doesn't worry me. In fact I find it has a unique appeal.

A tour of the show flat will be interesting.

[admiral47]

I think it looks terrible- although on a positive note its usually Morecambe that gets the crap housing-I am sure it cost lots but looks like a 60s cooncil block IMO!

[greenshrimp]

Who's the developer or who will be marketing these - are these available to buy yet?

[George Dawes]

Who's the developer or who will be marketing these - are these available to buy yet?

dunno the developer, but i did get told off somebody working on it, that there having trouble selling them, but thats no surprise considering today's economic climate

[marky No.1]

The colour has been known for a while has'nt it?

The flats will cost an average of £150K dependent on bedrooms/view

http://www.lancasterguardian.co.uk/fron ... 2868279.jp

[Gnasher]

You aren't going to get families moving in, not unless little Johnny is addicted to computers, pizzas or sniffing the fumes from the laundry. It's not like little Johnny can nip to the corner shop without crossing Lancaster's busiest and, for pedestrians, most dangerous roads.

[P/T Indie]

Does anyone know how much the apartments by the canal/white cross are? as if the price range is nearly the same it wouldn't be a hard choice to decide where to live.