The new Junction 33 site will house a state-of-the-art auction mart, commercial units and converted farm buildings, securing the future of livestock auctioneering in North Lancashire.
L & K Group has submitted a full planning application to Lancaster City Council (LCC) for a major new livestock auction mart and commercial development on land it owns at Junction 33 of the M6, near Galgate.
The application, prepared with renowned local architects Mason Gillibrand, follows twelve months of masterplanning and consultation on land to the west of the A6 that L & K Group has owned since December 2017. Now validated by LCC, the full application is available to view via the LCC planning portal.
If approved, the development will see the Group's livestock auctioneering operations relocate from its current Wyresdale Road site to the new J33 site, alongside significant new commercial space for local agriculture-based businesses.
What the application includes
The proposals cover three main elements:
- A new auction mart, on land west of the A6, replacing the existing Wyresdale Road site. At around 7,500 sq metres, the building will include auction rings, penning, administration offices, a large café, lettable areas and a conference facility, in a similar style to the Group's existing J36 development. The scheme provides for parking for 200 vehicles at the front of the building and livestock trailer parking for 130 vehicles at the rear.
- Commercial space, comprising a series of new units similar to those already supporting local agriculture-based businesses at J36. Six new letting units, ranging from 600 to 825 sq metres, will be built with secure compounds and parking, generating significant rental income for the Group.
- Lane House Farm, where the existing farmhouse and stone barns on site will be refurbished and converted into residential and office accommodation, respectively, with 35 adjacent parking spaces for the office units.
Watch a flyover of the proposed J33 site
Crucially, the Galgate site was allocated in the Local Plan specifically for an auction mart with ancillary agri-business units, meaning the relocation keeps the auction mart within LCC's boundary. In turn, the Wyresdale Road site will be freed up for residential development – an outcome LCC has also welcomed, helping to meet local housing need while moving mart traffic away from Lancaster's urban centre and onto major arterial routes.
The plans have been presented to council officers and councillors as part of the Planning Performance Agreement process, where they were "positively and enthusiastically received."
Investment and timescale
L & K Group anticipates a decision on the application by the end of 2026. Subject to planning approval and the appointment of contractors, work on site is expected to begin in mid-2028, with the auction mart itself completed in the first half of 2030. Livestock auctioneering operations would then transition from Wyresdale Road to the new J33 site during 2030.
The Group estimates the total cost of the development at £12.1m, covering road access, utilities, site levelling and landscaping, construction of the auction mart and car parking, site preparation and services for the commercial units and the refurbishment of Lane House Farm.
James Dixon, Executive Chairman of L & K Group, said:
"Just as the merger of the Lancaster and Kendal Auctions over 20 years ago and our move out of Kendal in 2013 were pivotal steps for our business, we believe the move to J33 will be equally transformative. Crucially, it demonstrates our ongoing commitment to investing equally in high-calibre infrastructure across both J33 and J36, supported by matching management and operational strength at both locations. We anticipate a decision on the application by, at the latest, the end of the year. While planning processes carry inherent uncertainties, we are confident that our application is robust, supported by thorough specialist studies, and that it directly incorporates feedback from LCC planning officers without compromising the development's commercial benefits and profitability."