Crunch time looms for plans to build 71 homes on West Cumbria’s former Royal Navy armaments depot.
Allerdale Borough Council’s planning panel is set to discuss an application this week submitted by Derwent Forest Development Consortium Limited for the Broughton Moor depot, known locally as the Dump.
The consortium hopes to build a high quality housing development on the land – which is the largest brownfield site in England – and say the development “embraces the principles of sustainable living, work and leisure”.
The housebuilder believes their development will be an aspirational place to live.
In its design and access statement submitted to the authority, it said: “Various changes of land use over time have resulted in a rich and diverse landscape character, with the unique characteristics of the built form left by the military in the mid-20th century.”
The plans were discussed at a meeting of the development panel on February 15 but councillors delayed giving a verdict until the upcoming meeting this month so that more road traffic evidence can be gathered.
Broughton Moor Parish Council, as a statutory consultee, has raised concerns about an increase in traffic. It also claimed the current plans did not deliver on the original design for green, sustainable, self-sufficient, carbon neutral homes but, rather, use standard building materials, mains waste-water systems and mains electricity.
The council also objected on the grounds that the development would not benefit the existing village community.
The planning meeting last month heard an objection from concerned resident Caroline Murray.
After hearing the concerns of residents and statutory consultees, Councillor Nicky Cockburn successfully proposed that the application was deferred allowing time to gather additional evidence on traffic management, construction, an environmental management plan and habitat regulation assessment.
The application is again recommended for approval by the case officer if the consortium meets a series of conditions, including that the consortium meets a requirement for 20 per cent affordable housing.
