PLANNING officials are expecting a "fiercely contested" debate when a controversial proposal for a sheltered housing complex comes under the spotlight.

A public inquiry into plans to build 44 sheltered housing units on land off New Road, Windermere, gets under way at the town's Ladyholme Centre, on April 17, following the Lake District National Park Authority's decision to reject the scheme because it felt the proposals were unneighbourly, inappropriate in scale and design, had inadequate parking provision and did not meet an identified housing need in the national park.

Leeds-based developer Golden Living appealed against the refusal, however, on the grounds that there was a need for retirement accommodation in the Lake District.

The LDNPA's principal planner David Buylla, who will be giving evidence at the inquiry, said he was expecting a "fiercely contested" inquiry,

For full story see March 30 Westmorland Gazette.