A TOTAL of 90 new homes can be built on the western edge of Carlisle after councillors unanimously backed the proposal.

Members of Cumberland Council's planning committee met at Allerdale House in Workington on Wednesday (March 13) to consider the application.

It was for land to the west of the junction on Orton Road and Sandsfield Lane and it was considered by the committee because it was of strategic significance and was for a housing development which covered an area exceeding two hectares.

Planning permissions was granted to a number of conditions and the applicant, Genesis Homes (North), would:

  • provide affordable housing including nine discounted sale properties and nine affordable rented properties;
  • pay £409,800 towards secondary education;
  • pay £6,500 towards a Traffic Regulation Order;
  • pay £6,600 towards a Travel Plan monitoring fee;
  • pay £78,433.50 to enhance, increase accessibility, and upgrade existing facilities on Yewdale Road and Richmond Green;
  • pay £29,484 towards the provision of artificial pitches district wide;
  • the management of on-site open space;
  • and mitigation to deal with nutrient neutrality.

The application had been met with a number of concerns, with several objectors voicing fears about overdevelopment.

Immediately to the south east of the site is Oakleigh Fields, a housing development of 156 dwellings currently being developed. Not far away is a proposed development of more than 700 homes at Morton, as well as the planned Garden Village of 10,000 homes.

Both Beaumont and Cummersdale parish councils registered their objection to the plans. In its objection, Cummersdale parish council had said: "This site was not included in the Carlisle & District Local Plan and should be considered with the developments in Carlisle West including the proposed Morton development and the Garden Village."

But in a report recommending the application for approval, Cumberland Council planning officers wrote that although the site is not included Carlisle's 'local plan', which designates sites for housing, it should be allowed as a 'windfall site'.

"It is a well-established planning principle enshrined in current planning policies transparent at both national and local level that windfall sites contribute in a positive way to the supply of housing," the report concluded.