Last updated at 15:58, Friday, 07 December 2012

Work on building 77 new homes on the site of Cockermouth’s former county council depot could begin in March.

Washington Estates Limited, a subsidiary of Flimby-based Thomas Armstrong Limited, wants to build a mixture of houses and flats, of which a quarter will be designated as affordable, off Sullart Street.

The site was bought in June from Gladman Developments, who’d had a larger scheme approved for 63 town houses and 38 flats, plus 55 apartments with care for the over-55s, despite many protests.

The homes in the current application will be a mixture of terraced, semi-detached and detached houses, all between two and three storeys.

They will have back gardens and either private or shared driveways or garages and parking at the front. Traditional materials will be used.

The proposals have already been supported by the town council and a decision is expected early in the new year.

Coun Alan Smith said: “This is exactly what Cockermouth needs. I have concerns about the car parking but welcome the addition of affordable housing.”

Barry Denham, director at Thomas Armstrong, said that if the application was approved the earliest that building would start would be March.

Meanwhile, the nearby Gas Holder site is the subject of a separate planning application for eight new homes. Access would be from Sullart Street, with pedestrian access also provided at Derwent Street and New Street.

First published at 15:55, Friday, 07 December 2012
Published by http://www.timesandstar.co.uk