A plan to build 53 new homes in Penrith has been lodged with Westmorland & Furness Council.
Willan Living wants to create the development on land north of White Ox Farm on Inglewood Road.
The land is currently used for agriculture and hosts a caravan park, which was established in the 1970s. The 1.87 hectare site was once home to a quarry, disused by 1864.
To the south lies the new 76-home development of Chase Park, in its final stages of construction by Atkinson Contractors and Riverside Housing at White Ox Farm.
Willan Living said its development would include 15 two-bedroom homes, 27 three-bedroom homes, seven four-bedroom homes and four five-bedroom homes, with a total of 139 parking spaces.
They would be a mix of detached, semi-detached and terraced bungalows and two-storey units.
However, Penrith Town Council has objected to the plans and told the local authority that the development goes against policy, the housing developer has not demonstrated how it worked with infrastructure providers and other developers to demonstrate how the development will jointly provide and fund the physical and social infrastructure necessary to support development in the town.
It said it had major concerns about this – with new developments adding substantial pressure, particularly on the social infrastructure of school places and the NHS services.
It said: “All GP and medical facilities are at the southern end of Penrith and although St Catherine’s is mentioned as the nearest primary school, it is an RC school with additional admittance criteria.
“Most children will probably attend nurseries and primary schools further away eg Brunswick Road, Wetheriggs and Beaconside Schools thereby putting more pressure on these establishments. We have been informed that our primary schools are full. Likewise, secondary provision is also stretched.”
As part of the application, Willan Living said: “While it has always been the preference of Willan Living to include affordable housing and to make meaningful contributions to the community, the financial realities of this development due to the reasons mentioned above would make it unviable to provide 30% affordable housing, or an education contribution. This is not a decision that Willan Living take lightly.”
However, Penrith Town Council said: “Although no play areas are proposed on site due to the proximity of existing play areas, Milton Street is some distance away across the busy A6 and with limited play equipment. Should the application be approved, the town council would want it to be conditioned that the developer should speak to the town council regarding a contribution of funding for the enhancement and development of Fairhill which is owned by the town council.”
It said there were concerns over road safety on Inglewood Road, which it said was currently a single-track road from Stoneybeck Roundabout and had been the subject of a number of police complaints due to speeding with the road already.
It said there had been one fatality and a number of near misses reported by the equestrian facilities at either end and called for the 30mph limit to be extended.
