PROPOSALS to make a series of changes to roads in Windermere ahead of a major development have been given the green light.

Members of the development control committee for the Lake District National Park Authority approved plans from Urban Splash Developments Limited for the construction of a raft of road improvements on the A591 and Thwaites Lane.

Plans also involve the development of cycle and pedestrian links between Orrest Head Farm and Windermere Railway Station.

The proposed works are required to accommodate the delivery of the Orrest Head Farm mixed-use allocation site in the local plan which is anticipated to deliver 250 homes.

The Orrest Head Farm site forms part of the Windermere Gateway Project which covers a wider area including Windermere Railway Station and the surrounding land.

The planning statement describes the project as the ambition to create a transformational new gateway for Windermere that delivers affordable and local needs housing, jobs and improved sustainable travel opportunities.

The applicant’s agent Andrew Johnston, director of Made it Together, told the committee the proposed infrastructure works are ‘essential’ for making the site accessible and available for future phases of development.

Mr Johnston added: “This application seeks to lay the framework for future development at Orrest Head Farm through crucial highway improvements which will support future housing and job creation on an allocated site in Windermere.”

The approved plans include work to enable the existing A591 road speed limit to be reduced to 30mph on approach to Windermere Gateway and then reduced to 20mph.

On Thwaites Lane a new four arm junction with an east-west pedestrian / cycleway route is proposed.

Plans also involve the creation of new junctions from the A591 and Thwaites Lane into the Orrest Head Farm site.

Planning documents state: “The proposed development is specifically required to deliver the highways infrastructure to unlock the Orrest Head Farm allocation and facilitate the delivery of the wider mixed-use development.

“The proposed development is being brought forward in advance of the mixed-use allocation to enable access to capital grant funding via the Housing Infrastructure Fund (“HIF”).

“The funding will, therefore, assist in securing the delivery of the Orrest Head Farm development and unlock the social, economic and environmental benefits associated with the allocation.”

According to the report prepared for the committee, the proposals have received 36 objections which raised concerns over the impact the proposals could have on road safety.

However the report adds: “Given the information provided to support the application and the conclusions of the Local Highway Authority, I consider that the development would not have an unacceptable impact on highway safety or result in severe cumulative impacts on the road network, subject to recommended conditions.”

Members of the development control committee approved the plans on November 6 at Murley Moss.