RESIDENTS have expressed concern at plans to build ten low-cost houses on the outskirts of Windermere.

Impact Housing Association is seeking permission to build two terraces of four houses and two bungalows on land off Lickbarrow Close, outside the town's development boundary. The houses will be let at affordable rents.

Access for the development would be off Lickbarrow Road and 16 parking spaces are proposed.

The Lake District National Park Authority has received 75 letters of objection to the plans and Windermere and Bowness Civic Society is also opposing the scheme.

Concerns include traffic generation, road safety, housing density, urbanisation and the effect on water supply and the sewage system. In addition, the highways authority says there are "fundamental difficulties" with the proposed access and it has also objected.

A number of objectors expressed their concerns at a meeting of the authority's development control committee in Kendal.

According to Linda Harrison, of Windermere Park, the scheme was inappropriate for the area and would make it more urban.

She said: "There's no doubt that this application would turn a rural area into a very urban area with high density housing, wide tarmac roads, hard landscaping and street lighting. None of this is in keeping with the rural area it is now."

Jean Blackledge, a chartered surveyor who used to live in the area, said the proposals represented "over-development", the density of the houses was too high and the designs did not fit in with other properties in the area.

Ms Blackledge was also concerned about the dangerous access and the impact on services such as water and sewerage.

"Water and sewerage are already a problem," she said. "When you turn the tap on at times there is no water. Sewerage is also a problem in the area.

You've got ten three-bedroomed houses and you could have an extra 40 people living there which is going to have an impact."

Planning officer Mairi Lock said officers were also concerned at the number of houses proposed and their access. Negotiations were ongoing to amend the scheme.

In the meantime she recommended that the committee visit the site and members agreed.