A SOUTH Lakeland hamlet is set to double in size now controversial housing plans have been approved.

Eighteen new homes are to be built at Greenside, close to Hincaster, almost doubling the current settlement of 19 homes and 10 flats.

“Policy says the development should be ‘infilling’ or ‘rounding off’ and this is stretching that a bit,” said Coun Brian Cooper.

“This development will have a huge effect on the area.”

The detached homes, six of which are to be ‘affordable’, are to be built on the semi-derelict Greenside Farm site. It was a former poultry farm and egg packing plant.

Council planners had recommended refusal of the development, saying it would ‘fundamentally affect the character of Greenside’ if approved.

They also raised issues about the rural location, paucity of public transport and lack of nearby facilities with planner, Mark Shipman, saying Hincaster has no pub, post office, shop, play area, church, meeting room, medical facilities or recycling facilities.

The subject also divided the community, with planners receiving 14 letters of objection and 14 letters of support.

But members of South Lakeland District Council’s Planning Committee voted by an overwhelming majority to approve them.

“Milnthorpe people would give their eyes to find affordable homes within such easy reach,” said Coun David Ryder.

“I think it would be very welcome and a whole lot of people in this area would be delighted if they could find an affordable home.”

Coun Mary Wilson said: “This is a rural community where people have to travel to work and use their own cars.

“We can’t get round that, so to use that argument is a little immaterial.”

As councillors rubber-stamped the plans they said ‘consideration’ should be given to local people needing affordable housing.

“We have a problem with people in the area not being able to get houses where they want, but people from out of the area are getting them instead,” added Coun John Holmes.

“Consideration should be given to the community itself.”

The land had previously been given planning permissison for 80 holiday chalets, but this expired at the end of November.