A decision about plans to build a total of 90 new homes on the edge of Carlisle has been deferred because of concerns over a lack of open space.
Members of Cumberland Council’s planning committee met at the Civic Centre in Carlisle to consider the planning application from Genesis Homes yesterday.
The developer was hoping to build the new properties on land to the west of junction on Orton Road and Sandsfield Lane.
Barbara Percival, a planning officer at the council, told members that nine of the buildings would be classed as affordable.
Local Kevin Smith opposed the development because he felt there were road safety issues. He said: “Sandsfield Lane is extremely dangerous. The speed limit is 40mph for those who stick to it.”
He said the residents would be crammed in like sardines and added: “Ninety houses on that little estate is not right.”
Ward councillor Jeanette Whalen (Yewdale, Labour) said that, while there was a need for housing in Carlisle, it had more than addressed in the area through a number of recent housing developments and residents would be disturbed by traffic during the construction of the development.
Sam Greig, the applicant’s agent, said construction traffic would be covered by planning conditions and highways safety issues would be improved by alterations to the junction of Orton Road and Sandsfield Lane.
He said: “It will significantly improve that junction. There is open space within the site but there is also a financial contribution to improve the area.”
However, councillor Chris Southward (Denton Holme, Labour) disagreed and said: “There’s little in the way of on-site open space and I’d have thought it amenable to stick a playground in there for the kids.”
Jane Meek, the council’s assistant director of thriving place and investment, told members that the application could be deferred until a future meeting so officers could talk to the applicant so the application could be revised and members agreed with her proposal.
The application was before the committee because is for a housing development which covers an area exceeding two hectares.
It was recommended that permission be granted subject to a number of conditions including:
- The provision of affordable housing – nine discounted sale properties and nine with affordable rent;
- Payment of £409,800 towards secondary education;
- Payment of £6500 towards a traffic regulation order;
- Payment of £6600 towards a travel plan monitoring fee;
- Payment of £78,433.50 to enhance, increase accessibility, and upgrade existing facilities on Yewdale Road and Richmond Green;
- Payment of £29,484 toward the provision of artificial pitches district wide;
- The management of on-site open space.
According to a planning report the 5.83-hectare site is described as agricultural land – however, the area of land proposed for dwellings covers an area of 3.3 hectares.
It was proposed that the remainder of the land, to the north west, would be used for the disposal of surface water and the associated outfall into an unnamed watercourse located to the west of the site.
