Views wanted on Heysham Industrial site's future development
A public consultation has been launched on plans for land near Heysham to be turned into an employment site
Last updated 9th May 2025
A public consultation has been launched on plans to turn under-used industrial land near Heysham into an employment site.
The project between Lancaster City Council and Lancashire County Council aims to unlock the potential of the Heysham Gateway area on Imperial Road. The two councils want to address long-standing issues such as contamination, fractured land ownership and infrastructure constraints in the area. In the past, an oil refinery was based in part of the area.
Residents and businesses are being encouraged to have their say on the proposals on a website, called imperialroadheysham.co.uk. The consultation will then inform the next stages of the project, including potential planning and funding applications.
Coun Martin Bottoms, a cabinet member with a remit for for economic growth and regeneration at Lancaster City Council, said:
“This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to turn dormant land into a vibrant, employment-generating business location that supports the future prosperity of Heysham and the wider district. We want local people to help shape these plans and I encourage everyone to visit the consultation page and share their views.”
The deadline for responses is May 28th. The council said public feedback will be used to refine the proposals before any formal planning applications are submitted.
In the past, the Heysham Gateway area has been a topic of council conversations and some activity at different points. Some discussions explored ideas around renewable energy businesses, manufacturing, marine technology or logistics. The wider Heysham area includes a sea port to Ireland and the Isle of Man, a hub for electricity generated by wind turbines at sea, two nuclear power stations, roads and other infrastructure.
Potential government support has also been mentioned in the past regarding Heysham. In 2022, the area was briefly discussed as a possible investment zone under the then Conservative government. Earlier, there were discussion about free port status. These could have involved incentives for developers or businesses, had they been implemented. At the time, Conservative governments were promoting free ports, town deals and investment zones in some parts of the country.
A number of those schemes remain. And some newer long-term town deals launched by the last Conservative government in its final months have been continued and modified by the new Labour government. Long term plans are now called neighbourhood plans.
Separately. earlier this year, Lancaster city councillors debated ideas for Heysham’s future including new smaller nuclear power reactors, HGV trucker facilities for sea port traffic, better railway links, visitor car parking and transport for the Eden Project Morecambe or a light-regulation free-port arrangement.
Whether the Gateway site becomes connected to a government scheme in future, or remains a purely councils-led project, remains to be seen.