AN appeal for the development of new homes at a former West Cumbrian arms depot has been allowed by the planning inspectorate.

The development proposed is 71 residential units (access, scale, layout, appearance, landscaping) on land at Land at Derwent Forest, Broughton Moor was submitted to the former Allerdale Borough Council authority back in February 2020.

The application was refused by the former authorities planning committee in March 2022. 

The housebuilder had said it believed that the development would bring a number of benefits with the clean-up of the brownfield site and affordable housing.

Councillors sided with residents who spoke against the plans at the meeting in March 2022, with members of the community feeling the increase in traffic would be too much for roads in Great Broughton, Broughton Moor and Seaton, which are already struggling to cope.

An independent planning inspectorate appointed by the secretary of state decided on November, 15 that the appeal put forward by Nigel Catterson of Derwent Forest Development Consortium Ltd against the decision of Allerdale Borough Council, should be granted subject to a number of conditions for the project.

A spokesperson for Derwent Forest Development Consortium said: “We’ve received planning permission and will continue to work with the local planning authority and the local community about the site’s future.”

The appeal will be heard by the Cumberland council planning committee at a meeting next Wednesday, December 20.