More than 20 sites considered for housing development in Cockermouth have been thrown out by planners.

Allerdale planning officers said the town had exceeded its housing targets and no new land has been earmarked to build homes in the authority’s draft local plan.

The document identifies areas suitable for housing development, new retail units, business development and travellers’ sites across the district.

In 2014 the local plan stated 547 new homes were needed in Cockermouth by 2029.

But the town has already seen 210 houses go up and 570 are in the process of being built.

This means it will have an excess of 233 homes on its target growth.

The planning authority said it considered existing housing commitments, flood risk and suitability of the area.

Sites considered include Wakefield Road car park, land off Lorton Road, land south of Castlegate Drive and land near Derwent Mills.

New housing developments planned for Cockermouth include a 320-home development at Strawberry How by Story Homes.

Len Davis, town councillor said: “This is good news, the infrastructure is already stretched as it is. The Story development at Strawberry How is on the wrong side of Cockermouth.

"I would suggest that people living there won’t have easy access to the A66, for example.

“The schools are also bursting at the seams. I think they are getting near the capacity so this news is very welcome.”

Allerdale planners said there was limited capacity for convenience goods space following the approval of the new Lidl store, but there was capacity for other retail and businesses use in the town.

A 0.75-hectare parcel of land on Low Road, behind the Lakes Home Centre, has been earmarked for this purpose.

The local plan draft document said although the site lies within a flood risk zone, there are limited areas for development in the town centre.

Any proposal to develop the site should include a landscaping scheme to mitigate visual impact and integrate the development into its wider surroundings.

A smaller parcel of land of 0.23 hectares near the town’s Aldi was also identified for business development.

The proposals, which are due to be discussed by the council’s executive on Wednesday, will be followed by a public consultation.

Workington has been identified as the main centre for housing and business development.

Five different areas including the former Southfield school site, and land at Stainburn, Seaton and High Harrington were identified for housing development, with a capacity of up to 410 homes.

The authority said the town could also accommodate a medium size supermarket or discount food store, other retail units and new leisure developments. Main areas identified for the developments are Lillyhall, the Port of Workington and Oldside.

Allerdale council has a duty to assess the accommodation needs of gypsy and travellers communities and travelling showmen. It currently has no sites but it has identified the former caravan park at Oldside, which it owns, as suitable.