An ambitious project to regenerate a former Ministry of Defence site in the Lake District has moved a step closer to reality.
Wellbank Park is a custom build housing estate on the 12-acre site near Bootle, and plots costs from £100,000 for people to build their dream home on.
The 50-plot development is being co-ordinated by property group FN Solutions in partnership with Hugr Homes and the first 12 homes are currently being marketed by Lakes Estates.
One of the owners of FN Solutions, David Nuttall bought the site with his wife Janet and business partner Mark Frost 10 years ago, with a vision to attract new families to the area by creating a vibrant, mixed-use development centred around community and sustainability.
People will have to buy the plot and then pay for the building of their home on top of that. The houses must all adhere to the Lake District’s design code and must be people’s primary residence.
The houses and bungalows will sit alongside a community hub, giving residents access to a café, swimming pool, co-working space, meeting rooms and community exhibition space, as well as a hydrotherapy pool, gym, and sensory room.
There will also be landscaped cycleways, pathways and two small lakes, with eight holiday homes for people with disabilities also on site.
David said: “It’s tremendously exciting to see this project coming to fruition, in what will be a first of its kind for the Lake District National Park.
“There are so many advantages to homebuyers talking a direct role in designing custom-build homes to meet their personal needs, not least the chance to future-proof against rising energy costs by incorporating low-cost features. Buyers can also take advantage of the Government’s Help to Build scheme.
“We’re really passionate about this often-overlooked area of Cumbria, which combines excellent transport links with views across the Western fells and easy access to beaches at Silecroft and Bootle. As Cumbria residents ourselves, we genuinely want to offer people a unique coastal lifestyle which enables them to live, work and thrive.”
A decision on planning permission for the full site is expected from the Lake District National Park Authority later this year.
