Last updated at 19:54, Thursday, 05 July 2012

Stainburn in Workington will be in line for more than 170 new homes if two planned schemes get the go-ahead on Tuesday.

Allerdale council’s development panel will consider plans by Story Homes for 150 homes and a proposed 22-home development by Hearthstone Homes Ltd.

Both have been recommended for approval by planning officers, despite attracting more than 140 letters of objection between them.

The Story Homes proposal for land off Moor Road would include 30 affordable homes.

It has been resubmitted after being turned down in March.

Ninety letters of objection were received by Allerdale council, raising concerns about traffic, lack of village facilities, flooding and loss of wildlife.

A 184-signature petition has also been sent in opposing the development.

Workington Town Council raised concern about the impact the new homes would have on traffic flow around the greenfield site.

But Cumbria police said previous concerns about highway safety had been addressed.

Allerdale council’s housing needs team said there was a need for two and three-bedroom houses in Workington, and 84 per cent of the planned affordable housing should be for rent, with the rest of low-cost ownership.

Meanwhile, Hearthstone Homes’s plan for 14 three-bedroom and eight four-bedroom homes at Moor Road has prompted 52 letters of objection, and the town council recommended refusal.

Objectors raised concerns about congestion at nearby Wentworth Park, highway safety, the loss of a greenfield site and lack of local school spaces.

The Environment Agency says more assessment is needed of surface water management.

Cumbria Highways, environmental protection, United Utilities and the Butterfly Conservation Trust have raised no objections and housing officers have said there is a need for three-bedroom homes.

Both applications are recommended for approval when the development panel meets at The Wave Centre in Maryport at 11am.

First published at 19:20, Thursday, 05 July 2012
Published by http://www.timesandstar.co.uk