Simtor’s 70 Cumbrian homes approved after four-year wait

The lifting of nutrient neutrality restrictions around Carlisle, and a positive verdict for the area’s planning committee, has meant the developer can finally progress its plans to build a neighbourhood on land west of Steeles Bank in Wetheral.

Simtor’s project has now been through two different councils – as it was first evaluated (and approved in principle) by Carlisle City Council’s planning committee in February 2022. That local authority has since been replaced by Cumberland Council, whose members were similarly minded to approve when they debated the scheme last week.

The delay had been caused by nutrient neutrality rules, which came into effect in March of 2022 and declared that projects could not progress unless they could prove they would not increase nutrient pollution in the River Eden.

Simtor was unable to do so, so, despite having a Section 106 agreed, the scheme was paused.

When nutrient neutrality controls were reduced this year, this S106 agreement needed reassessing, thus the application’s return to committee four years later.

Simtor’s development zeroes in on seven acres of greenfield land that is currently being used for grazing. Simtor has ambitions to build bungalows, terraced houses, flats, and detached houses on the site – including 21 affordable homes.

Summit Town Planning led the planning process for the scheme. Also on the project team: Architects Plus, Bingham Yates Limited, and Westwood Landscape.

You can learn more about the project by searching reference 21/0655 on Cumberland Council’s planning portal for Carlisle.