Last updated at 19:53, Thursday, 12 July 2012

The door was opened this week on a Workington housing boom, with plans for about 250 new homes.

Two separate plans, which will see more than 170 new homes built at Stainburn, have been given the go-ahead.

Story Homes can now create a 150-home estate on land off Moor Road.

Hearthstone Homes can build 22 homes next to Wentworth Park.

Meanwhile, Thomas Armstrong (Construction) Ltd has plans to build 80 homes at High Harrington.

Workington MP Tony Cunningham has welcomed the plans.

He said: “There is a shortage of homes and we need to be building more but they need to be in the right places. We need affordable housing.”

Allerdale council development panel was told by officers on Tuesday that it would be difficult to turn down either Stainburn plan, despite some objections, because the council could not show there was enough land elsewhere to meet local housing needs.

Story Homes’ plan for 150 homes between Moor Road and the A66, which includes 30 affordable homes, was turned down earlier this year but the firm resubmitted its application after the National Planning Policy Framework came into force.

Councils are now being urged to approve more housing.

Ninety letters of objection and a 184-name petition against the plan were sent to the council.

Anthea Jones, representing objectors, said there was concern about a junction between Moor Road and Stainburn Road.

But the meeting heard that Steven Eggleston, highways engineer for Story Homes, had been working with police and the county council to overcome traffic concerns. Neither authority objected to the plans.

Story Homes planner Janet Carruthers said the scheme included 32,000sq ft of open space.

The company will contribute £107,000 towards transport improvements, including community transport, extension of a 30mph limit at Moor Road, provision of a gateway near The Briery to signify the start of a residential area, and traffic calming on Moor Road.

Meanwhile, Hearthstone Homes’ plan for 22 homes, including four affordable homes, next to Wentworth Park was approved.

Agent Brian Barden said: “It is a logical extension to an existing estate.”

Thomas Armstrong (Construction) Ltd has proposed 80 homes on land off Main Road, opposite Little Croft, High Harrington, with 16 of the properties classed as “affordable”.

The developer claims the houses will help meet a chronic “under supply of housing” in Allerdale and help to promote a “vibrant community”.

First published at 19:25, Thursday, 12 July 2012
Published by http://www.timesandstar.co.uk