Plans for 139 homes on a former West Cumbrian factory site have been given the go-ahead.
Persimmon Homes wants to build the first phase of a larger estate on land formerly occupied by Marchon on High Road in Kells, Whitehaven.
A special meeting was held by Cumberland Council’s planning committee on Tuesday to discuss the application.
The application was for the first phase and a bid for outline permission for a second phase of 189 homes, with exact details to be agreed at a later stage on the 28-hectare site.
The factory stopped operations in 2005 and was demolished, but the meeting was told that there was significant ground contamination which would require remediation before the land could be built on – estimated to cost around £16 million.
An officer said the necessary work meant that the development was assessed as being not viable which was why the developer had not included affordable home or an educational contribution.
However, ward councillor Emma Williamson (Kells and Sandwith, Labour) said she spoke as a concerned resident and said: “I’d like to know where the children are going to go to school.”
She said there would be an estimated extra 113 primary and 74 secondary pupils and that local schools were already ‘stretched’. She added: “I’m fed up of developers coming into my community and not investing properly.”
On behalf of applicant Persimmon Homes Rachel Graham said the site was originally a coal mine in 1774 before it was a chemical factory and it was an opportunity to give the site its next lease of life.
She said that the necessary remediation work on the contaminated land required an additional £16 million of abnormal costs.
Councillor Roger Dobson (Corby and Hayton, Lib Dems) said the unviability of the development represented a £12m loss.
He asked: “Is the developer happy to proceed?” He was told Persimmon was willing to proceed because the loss would be recovered at a later stage.
Cllr Dobson asked around 17 questions during the meeting, and said he was concerned about the lack of an education contribution and that there were still mineshafts on the site. H
e asked if the shafts were capped and would it require a specialist firm to do the work. Officers said the council would consult the Coal Authority to check that it was satisfied.
Cllr Andrew Semple (Cockermouth South, Labour) said he had listened to the concerns from Cllr Williamson but he was surprised Whitehaven Town Council had not submitted a response. He said the site needed to be developed and added: “On balance it’s going to give the area what is needed.”
He proposed that they accept the officers’ recommendation and grant planning permission.
He added: “I am satisfied that, on balance, we should accept it.”
Councillor Jimmy Grisdale (Seaton, Labour) seconded his proposal and Councillor Carni McCarron-Holmes (Maryport North, Labour) said it represented a substantial development opportunity for the area and she supported it wholeheartedly.
Councillor Tony Markley (Solway Coast, Conservative) asked what else could be done with the site.
Councillor Bob Kelly (Millom, Labour) said it was an opportunity to make the site more beautiful but said he was concerned the development was unviable.
Ms Graham said Persimmon Homes was no stranger to sites like this one, but the development had been carefully thought through, and added: “There isn’t a site that half way through has been stopped. We do really try and do that work and clearly we aren’t going to work for a loss.”
The council’s legal advisor said the site was allocated for housing and, when it was put to the vote, seven members voted in favour of granting planning permission with one against and the motion was carried.
According to the terms of the planning agreement the developer will provide:
- a travel plan monitoring fee of £6600;
- a contribution of £65,000 towards the improvements to the English Coastal
- Path in the vicinity of the development land;
- a contribution of £80,000 towards the enhancement of the active travel facilities on High Road;
- a contribution of £59,600 towards the highway improvement works at the
- Mirehouse Road/St Bees Road junction within the vicinity of the development; and
- produce a viability reappraisal mechanism ahead of phase two.
According to the report the application site covers an area of 28 hectares and is located on the south-western edge of Whitehaven, approximately 1.6km south of Whitehaven town centre and 2km west of the A595.
