Progress on 255 home estate stalled

The project is part of a 290-home estate on Ashfield Road South, of which 35 homes are already under construction.

Lovell Partnership is seeking detailed permission for the second phase of the estate.

But councillors sitting on Allerdale council's development panel decided to defer the decision following a meeting on Tuesday.

This was due to a list of concerns raised by the county council as the highways authority.

Gavin Murray, the county council's development management officer, said: "The revised design provides parking spaces that is considerably below our standard and is likely to result in on-street parking.

"As previously stated, any garage must be 3m by 7m to be considered a usable parking space and none of the proposed garages meet this standard.

"A significant number of houses therefore only have one space available.

"Further to this there is no guest parking available.

"The density of the driveways further limit the number of vehicles able to park on the road which may also push vehicles to park near junctions."

He added the limited parking was likely to effect the feasibility of any bus route through the estate, due to the likelihood of on-street parking.

Mr Murray also raised concerns about one of the turning points being below standard for bin wagons and some safety audits were missing.

Due to these and other concerns, the county council recommended the plans were rejected.

On Tuesday, Lovell Partnership also sought permission for an additional 12 homes on the site.

The development panel agreed to defer both decisions until the county council's concerns had been addressed.

The developer's plans for the 255 homes, would include:

n 34 two-bedroom units

n 178 three-bedroom units

n 43 four-bedroom units

A number of these homes would be affordable.

They would include 23 homes available for rent and 23 which would be sold at a discounted price.

They would be a mixture of two- and three-bedroom properties.