£10m funding blow for 240-home Windermere project

Westmorland and Furness Council will not progress the project after an agreement with Homes England for a £9.95m grant to pay for infrastructure work to unlock the site fell through.

Urban Splash’s 240-home Windermere Gateway project at the 22-acre, National Trust-owned Orrest Head Farm had been in line to receive almost £10m from Homes England to fund highways work.

However, that agreement is now off after “a number of challenges” affecting the scheme’s deliverability arose “recently”, according to the council.

Place North West has asked for me detail on these challenges.

A joint statement from the project partners said that they had been unable to meet Homes England’s funding deadlines “despite significant collaboration, commitment, and planning work to date”.

“Partners involved in the Windermere Gateway project, have undertaken extensive joint efforts to progress the proposed housing site at Orrest Head Farm,” the statement said.

“Given the emerging funding and delivery constraints, the housing scheme, including the anticipated outline planning application, cannot proceed to timetables set by Homes England in respect of the grant funding to enable the necessary highways infrastructure improvements.

“As a result, the grant agreement for the enabling highways infrastructure required to support the housing development will not be taken forward at this time.”

The statement went on to say that the decision had “not been taken lightly” and that the partners remain “fully committed” to delivering the project.