Penrith councillors have raised concerns over a plan to increase the size of a town housing estate by building an extra 194 homes.
Deputy town clerk Ros Richardson told a meeting of Penrith Town Council’s planning committee on Monday that the land in question, where Story Homes wish to site the new houses, had been allocated for housing in Eden Council’s local plan for a total of 250 homes — to be built in two phases.
Phase one on Salkeld Road had already been completed, with 98 houses being built, with the present application being for an additional 194 homes.
“If this was to be approved it would be for a total of 292 houses, which is 42 more than the local plan allocation,” said Ms Richardson.
Contained within the application were 170 market-led houses (38 three-bed and 132 four-bed) and an allocation of only 12 per cent had been earmarked to be affordable houses, as part of the development, due to “economic challenges within the construction industry”, the meeting was told.
The 24 affordable houses were to be split between two-bed and three-bed properties — with four two-bed bungalows being made available for affordable rent while eight two-bed terraced houses and 12 three-bed semi-detached terraced houses would be offered at discounted sale prices for those looking to get their first foot on the housing ladder.
Town councillor Margaret Clark said it was “ridiculous” that only four bungalows were being proposed, given the need that had been demonstrated for that type of housing in Penrith, while Hilary Snell said her concern was that these affordable houses were only affordable to certain people.
Penrith mayor Charlie Shepherd said: “There are an awful lot of issues here, including a number of technical issues as well, as far as I am concerned.
“One or two people have said that they are worried that Green Lane will be more flooded and that it (the development) will interfere with the drainage.
“I think we need to ensure that the development does not negatively affect the drainage etc of things round-about. As soon as you start digging, you interfere with natural drainage.”
After it was agreed that an objection should be lodged to the development, planning committee chairman Scott Jackson said: “There are too many houses on site. It’s over populated, there are not enough affordable houses and not enough bungalows.”
Councillors were also concerned about the lack of a play area and said enhanced facilities would need to be put in place at the Fairhill site to make up for that.
