Crunch time looms for plans to build 71 dwellings on a former Royal Navy armaments depot.
Allerdale Borough Council’s planning panel will finally give a verdict on the application next week which were submitted by Derwent Forest Development Consortium Limited.
The consortium hopes to build a “high quality” housing development at the Derwent Forest site in Great Broughton. They say that the development “embraces the principles of sustainable living, work and leisure.”
The housebuilder believes their development will be an aspirational place to live.
In the Design and Access Statement submitted to Allerdale Council, they said: “Various changes of land use over time have resulted in a rich and diverse landscape character, with the unique characteristics of the built form left by the military in the mid-20th Century.”
Plans were previously discussed at planning on February 15 but councillors delayed giving a verdict until the upcoming meeting on March 15 so that more road traffic evidence can be gathered.
Broughton Moor Parish Council, as a statutory consultee has raised concerns about an increase in traffic.
They also claimed that the current plans “do not deliver on the original design for green, sustainable, self-sufficient, carbon neutral homes but, rather, use standard building materials, mains waste-water systems and mains electricity.
The council also objected on the grounds that “this major development within the parish of Broughton Moor sees no benefit to the existing village community and this council would ask the panel to ascertain from the developer whether they intend to do anything to directly assist the village.”
The planning meeting last month heard an objection from concerned resident Caroline Murray.
After hearing the concerns of residents and statutory consultees, councillor Nicky Cockburn successfully proposed that the application is deferred allowing time to gather additional evidence on traffic management, construction, an environmental management plan and habitat regulation assessment.
Nevertheless the application is again recommended for approval by the case officer if the consortium meets a series of conditions.
Conditions on the application include that the consortium meets a requirement for 20 per cent affordable housing.
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