PLANNING | More than 750 homes on Carlisle agenda

Proposals for more than 750 houses on agricultural land are due to be discussed by Carlisle Council’s development control committee on Friday, with three major schemes recommended for approval.

The largest of these is an outline application for 480 homes on a 59-acre site bordering Orton Road and the A689, currently used as grazing pasture.

The site, which has been allocated as residential development land under Carlisle’s local plan, is being brought forward by private landowner the Niven family.

The homes would be delivered on a phased basis, with the first phase including 84 homes, the second 115, the third 70, the fourth 122, and the fifth 89.

Council planning officers have recommended the outline proposals for approval, based on a series of Section 106 contributions.

These include providing 30% affordable units at the development; a contribution of £1.3m towards secondary school places in the area; £281,000 towards improving the Wigton Road and Orton Road junction; and an unspecified contribution towards improving direct bus service provision for the site.

The application also received 11 objection letters from local residents, who argued against the loss of rural land and said the development would cause increased traffic on Orton Road.

Taylor & Hardy, part of the WYG Group, is planner for the project.

Also on the committee’s agenda are proposals by Taylor Wimpey to build 198 homes on a 23-acre agricultural site off Durranhill Road and alongside the M6.

Taylor Wimpey is proposing to build 93 four-bedroom houses; 66 three-beds; 16 five-beds; 13 two-beds; and 10 two-bedroom bungalows at the site.

The plans were first discussed by Carlisle’s committee on 24 November last year, with a recommendation to approve, but a decision was deferred after objections on both highways and drainage matters.

The application has now returned to the committee, again with a recommendation to approve, with additional Section 106 contributions towards highways works.

This includes an additional £110,000 towards road improvements on Warwick Road, alongside £15,000 towards cycling infrastructure.

Objections from the local flood authority have also been withdrawn following layout changes to the site. Local planning officers also stipulated that 31 homes at the development should be available for either discounted sale or social rent, as well as a financial contribution of £68,000 towards off-site sports pitches.

A third proposal from Story Homes for 81 houses on a site south of the A69 is also on Friday’s agenda, again with a recommendation to approve.

The 12-acre site, also used as agricultural land, bounded by the A69 to the north, and by existing residential development to the south and west, will be redeveloped into 42 four-bedroom homes; 18 two-beds; 14 three-beds; and seven five-beds, all accessed via Scotby Road to the west of the site.

The proposals have been met with 23 letters of objection from local residents, who have argued additional homes would place pressure on local school places and road infrastructure.

Wetheral Parish Council also raised concerns over the development’s single point of access off Scotby Road, and the lack of school places provided by the plans.

However, the scheme has been recommended for approval by planning officers based on a Section 106 agreement.

This will include payments of £236,000 and £229,000 towards secondary and primary education respectively; £68,400 towards off-site sports pitches; and the provision of 12 affordable rent and 12 low-cost homes at the site.