Plans to build five homes in the Lake District are set to be refused because they would cause harm to the national park.
The homes – two detached houses and a terrace of three cottages – in Troutbeck, near Windermere, would have a local occupancy clause, which developer Highthwaite Ltd said would help the community remain vibrant and resilient.
Lake District National Park Authority’s development control committee is due to discuss the application for High Green on December 4 – and it has been recommended for refusal.
An officers’ report said the proposed development would remove the identified buffer which preserves the rural character of Troutbeck in views from the A592.
It added: “The loss of open space and undeveloped character would cause harm to the character and appearance of Troutbeck village with consequent harm to the significance of the Troutbeck Conservation Area and the English Lake District World Heritage Site.”
Previously, plans for five four-bedroom local occupancy homes on the site were refused by the committee in September 2023 with a subsequent appeal dismissed in December 2023.
An application for five three-bedroom occupancy homes was withdrawn by the applicant in November 2023 after it received feedback that more radical change was required.
This planning application prompted a mixed response with 23 households objecting to the plans and 15 representations being received in support of the application, the LDNPA report said.
Lakes Parish Council and Friends of the Lake District objected to the proposals with the parish council raising concerns over the detrimental impact of the plans as well as the affordability of the proposed homes.
The parish council said: “The council has determined that the harm resulting from the construction of the proposed houses outweighs any potential benefits. The proposed development poses intrinsic harm to the character and integrity of the location.
“The houses proposed in the development are not deemed to be affordable for local residents, thereby exacerbating issues of housing affordability and accessibility in the area”, their response added.
Supporters of the application say the proposed houses represented sustainable development and said it would helps solve the housing crisis in the area.
One supporter of the application said: “I am familiar with this proposed project and believe it is an excellent development that meets all the relevant planning policy requirements.
“The local area is in desperate need of more housing that is accessible and for local residents as there are just so many holiday homes in the area.”
