Plans to build 17 new homes on the site of a South Cumbrian care home blighted by anti-social behaviour have been rejected.
Mulberry Homes wanted to create the estate on land currently occupied by the vacant Combe House in Walney and applied to Westmorland and Furness Council for permission.
The authority’s Barrow’s planning committee voted to turn it down due to concerns over parking provision.
Planning officer Andrew Willison-Holt told councillors the site was a suitable location for housing but ‘there are outstanding concerns and objections over what I would regard as an overdevelopment’.
The Highways Authority said the number and layout of the parking scheme was not fully satisfactory and described some of the proposed set-up as a typical layout for commercial store parking not residential.
On the parking provision, Mr Willison-Holt said it was unduly contrived and convoluted and added the parking design would result in a poor living environment for future residents.
The planning officer concluded: “We do appreciate the effect of the ongoing dereliction the site’s had on the local community, it is an issue of consideration, but it has to be balanced against other considerations as well and in this instance I am of the opinion that the quality of the scheme and the possible risk it poses to highway safety outweigh the concerns over the continuing state of the site.
“The site deserves better, and the future occupants of the site deserve better.”
A member of staff at nearby Walney Central Nursery, which supports more than, 70 families voiced her concern over anti-social behaviour and said staff had called the police on numerous occasions.
She spoke of the regular fires at Combe House, on Central Drive, and asked: “What happens to the 76 families if that fire engulfs the nursery or causes damage to the nursery bearing in mind there isn’t enough nursery provision in the borough for 76 families.
“Another thing is all the resources that are being used to contain the fires. There were six units for six hours last time, it is a drain on our community’s resources.”
An agent speaking on behalf of the applicant said the proposed housing development would help meet the housing needs of Barrow and contribute to the provision of affordable housing in the area.
Mulberry Homes said: “This site is readily available and deliverable and would sit seamlessly into the surrounding area and would merely become an extension of what is already there whilst providing infill between the existing sites already built out, and within the settlement boundary of Barrow, whilst later having the benefit of sustainable development.
“Developments such as these will provide much needed ‘growth for the community as well as a district, whilst forming much needed housing for local families.”
A report from the planning officer added: “The rejuvenation of the site is a most worthwhile endeavour, especially in the face of its ongoing decline and vulnerability and the impact such has particularly on neighbouring occupants and users.”
Councillors agreed that the site needed development but in a way that meets planning requirements.
Councillor Frank Cassidy (Walney Island, Labour), spoke about his concern over anti-social behaviour and said: “Everybody wants to see it developed but plans have to be coherent.
“In the meantime, we should insist the developer makes it safe or demolish it before the darker months and there are more arson attacks because there’s been four at the site in the last 12 months.”
The decision to refuse this application was made yesterday at Barrow Town Hall.
