A total of 114 new affordable homes can be built in the Carlisle area after the plans were approved this week but councillors have called for a zebra crossing following road safety concerns.
Social landlord Home Group want to build the estate on land north of Burgh Road.
Planning permission has previously been granted for 83 open market homes on the site.
Councillor Andrew Semple (Cockermouth South, Labour) said: “This is the first application of its size for 100 per cent affordable housing.”
Members of Cumberland Council’s planning committee met at Allerdale House in Workington on Wednesday, April 9, to consider the planning application.
Councillor Roger Dobson (Corby and Hayton, Lib Dems) raised concerns about speeding motorists who used Burgh Road as a rat run and he suggested that they should make a condition that a zebra crossing is installed to improve road safety for pedestrians.
He added: “It will support the health and well-being of hundreds of people.”
Councillor John Mallinson (Houghton and Irthington, Conservative) said he thought a zebra crossing was a brilliant idea and added: “It’s something the council should be looking at doing anyway.”
Councillor Tony Markley (Solway Coast, Conservative) said: “We are making a decision, we can make an amendment. We want a zebra crossing and I would be happy to put the recommendation in.”
They were told that they could propose an updated recommendation and a planning officer said: “You would need some evidence to support it.”
Committee chairwoman councillor Anne Glendinning (Castle, Labour) said: “I don’t think we’ve got a strong enough argument.”
The agent’s spokeswoman pointed out that there was already planning permission for more than 80 homes and added the current application was for an additional 30 properties.
Cllr Markley suggested that the additional properties might help their recommendation to put a crossing in place. He added: “Our concern is the public that are going to live in those houses.”
Because of their strength of feeling for the crossing Councillor Semple said they had reached a heated agreement and added that the population increase should support putting the crossing in place.
Cllr Markley moved the recommend for the construction of a crossing due to the population increase, he was seconded by Cllr Dobson, to which the committee agreed.
