Villagers in north Cumbria are outraged over plans to build 163 homes near Carlisle.
Gleeson Homes wants to build the estate at Houghton, but objectors say the proposal is out of scale for the village and would increase its size by almost 25 per cent.
The developer submitted an application for the estate on 7.9 hectares of agricultural land alongside Brunstock Lane last month.
A group – Stop Gleeson Homes@Houghton – was set up after more than 200 people attended a public meeting in the village hall earlier this month to express their concerns over the impact of such a large-scale development.
Villagers are worried about the site’s suitability, which they claim floods regularly during periods of heavy rain, access and increased pressure on school places, plus the environmental impact of the development, which is proposed for land which has a popular, well-used footpath.
Kyle Brown, from the Stop Gleeson Homes @Houghton group, said: “The strength of the feeling among residents in the village against the plans is overwhelming.
“There are real and valid concerns about the negative impact of such a massive development on the village. It would harm the character of Houghton forever and put unsustainable pressure on the current infrastructure.
“The site that is being proposed goes against the local plan for Carlisle which identifies land suitable for housing, and the guidelines around ‘windfall developments’ for land which falls outside of the plan. We feel it is unnecessary over-development in a rural village which already has sites for housing earmarked for development.
“Our first priority is to urge anyone who has concerns about the proposals to lodge an objection with Cumberland Council.”
The deadline for objections is Monday, July 31.
Stanwix Rural Parish Council voted unanimously to strongly object to the application at a meeting on June 14.
