A field off Beacon Edge, Penrith, could be developed with five executive style homes — despite an application for just one property on the same site being rejected last year.
The application has been made by long-standing Penrith businessman Steve Atkinson, a director of Atkinson Building Contractors.
The site is an area of land between the properties East Larches and Lynwood, described as having no agricultural value and only being used for occasional grazing.
In June last year, Mr Atkinson was refused outline planning permission for the site by the Westmorland and Furness Council planning committee.
He had hoped to build his own environmentally-friendly home between East Larches and Lynwood Cottage, with the plan having the support of Penrith Town Council.
But planning officers on Westmorland and Furness Council did not agree and councillors then voted six to one to refuse.
It led to a debate about where housing in Penrith officially “starts and ends”.
Mr Atkinson said at the time that there were houses either side and beyond the site, although council planning officers regarded it as “change” of the area’s rural character. A fresh outline application has now been lodged to build the five homes.
Documents submitted with Mr Atkinson’s planning application, said: “These proposals will facilitate the achievement of the Local Plan ‘Vision for Eden’ by enhancing and protecting the unique character of this part of Penrith and by providing modern homes that would appeal especially to those making a business investment in the town.”
According to the planning statement, the proposed development would lead to investment in local contractors to carry out works which would support the local economy and the homes would lead to higher council tax income for Westmorland and Furness.
The development includes a number of “green” proposals including solar panels, battery storage, electric vehicle charging points, air source heating, and the properties creating more energy than they use.
There would also be a specially-created woodland, tree screening, squirrel ropes, hedgehog tunnels, a filtration pond, and a potential crossing to the new Cold Springs Nature Reserve. The applicants said the plans would result in a “significant” uplift in the biodiversity of the area.
The planning statement concluded: “The site is clearly on the edge of Penrith, in a low-density, high-quality part of Penrith, where the town actively transitions from a town to a rural area.”
The application is currently out to consultation.
