The Oaklea Trust has formally begun pre-planning application consultations with Eden District Council and the Environment Agency regarding the development of Edenside, the site of a former Residential Care Home in Appleby. Edenside closed in December 2015 due to flooding during Storm Desmond and with the backing and support of the local community The Oaklea Trust have purchased the site with the aim of providing much needed Extra Care Accommodation for local residents.
The current plans include 18 apartments around an internal courtyard providing both independence and a community feel.
The plans also need to incorporate flood resilience measures and the purpose of this pre-planning consultation is to ensure that the planning authorities are happy with the measures and to iron out any technical issues prior to the formal planning application.
Oaklea Trust Director Alex Wolfenden and the architect Philip Brooks from Day Cummins have already met with Principal Planning Officer for a very positive and constructive discussion around the draft plans and build ideas. Detailed plans and a ‘palette of materials’ will be on the agenda for the next meeting in the pre-planning application consultation process.
The Oaklea Trust has already held two public meetings, including a very interactive workshop style event, to gather ideas and preferences which have contributed to the design so far. Following the technical consultation with the planners and environment agency the formal planning application will be submitted. The current aim is to submit plans in July and the public will have a third opportunity to support and comment on the plans at that stage.
