Plan for 6,000 green-belt homes in South Lakes

More than 6,000 new houses will be built – many of them on greenfield sites – if a plan put forward by South Lakeland District Council is adopted.

The authority’s land allocations document, due to go to public consultation in the New Year, has also earmarked land for business.

The strategy aims to help meet housing and employment demand over the next 15 years.

Key proposals include:

• 2,060 houses in Kendal, with employment sites at Scroggs Wood and Burton Road.

• 1,264 houses in Ulverston, with employment sites at Canal Head and Lightburn Road.

• 500 houses in Grange-over-Sands.

• 118 in Kirkby Lonsdale.

• 186 in Milnthorpe.

• 1,878 houses in 43 other villages and areas of open countryside.

A key desire is to provide affordable housing and well-paid jobs to keep young people in the district.

But one leading develop-ment expert described building on greenbelt land as ‘questionable’.

Paul Holdsworth, a manager at the South Lakes Development Trust, said: “There’s a real need for affordable housing and viable employment but I don’t believe the right way forward is to develop our precious greenbelt.”

Patricia Hovey, secretary of Kendal Civic Society, said: “We think these areas should grow gradually but SLDC want to build 400 houses every year, which is an artificial target.”

However, Peter Thornton, SLDC’s housing and development portfolio holder, said: “If we didn’t do this then we would grow in an unstructured way.

“It’s just as important to identify the areas not open to development because this will protect them.

“Potentially everyone who lives next to a site will have issues but we have to accept that and be open and honest with people, and give them the chance to make representations.”

SLDC wants 35 per cent of any housing to be affordable.

Dan Hudson, development strategy group manager, said house prices in the region were between seven and 10 and a half times those elsewhere, and with an ageing population more needed to be done to help younger people.

He said that new housing would bring with it the potential for new jobs. New environmental companies were particularly welcome into south Cumbria.

Mr Hudson said: “Some people will have concerns about the development of greenfield sites yet development can bring benefits to many, from affordable homes and investment to employment opportunities.”

The new housing would roughly equate to 400 houses a year being built – more than double the recent rate.

Kendal

Just over one third of South Lakeland’s proposed new homes would come to Kendal – on 19 sites in the Auld Grey Town – as well as an employment site earmarked for Scroggs Wood and a business park at Burton Road.

These are mostly on greenfield areas, with the largest including 400 dwellings on four sites between Windermere Road and Burneside Road, and 300 houses to the east of Kendal Parks.

But it is the 300 houses ear-marked for land just off Appleby Road that are causing consternation for one campaigner.

Ex-teacher Will Garnett has blocked development of land opposite Queen Katherine School before, and said: “I would be totally opposed to any development on this site.

“There has already been a full, detailed inquiry about the land and there is a flood risk if houses are built there.

“If this went ahead we would undoubtedly fight it. We would form a committee and go through the process again.”

Other potential sites are at Oxenholme Road (180 houses), land between Lumley Road and Milnthorpe Road (140), land at Stonecross (250) and the area south of Brigsteer Road (100).

But the proposals have already hit trouble with Kendal Civic Society, whose secrteary Patricia Hovey said: “We came to the conclusion that Kendal is big enough as it is.

"We don’t think the town can take on any more.

“We do need more housing but there are 1,500 empty houses at the moment and these need to be put into use first.

"There is also empty space over shops which I’m sure young couples would live in as a first home – and we need to use these before we go into the green spaces.

“We’re not against housing but we honestly think Kendal is big enough.

"The air quality is already way above the danger level and if you get more houses and more traffic then there will be more air pollution.”

Grange-over-Sands

AROUND 500 houses could be developed on sites in Grange, including 200 on land south of Allithwaite Road.

Jonathan Denby, Grange resident and a leading hotelier, said: “I would welcome any development because new housing would help Grange remain a thriving community and keep the post office and primary school open and keep our facilities going.

“But I would very much hope that builders are allowed to build the houses they want to build and I would strongly urge the council to relax its rules on affordable housing, otherwise none of this will go ahead.”

The Land Allocations Document states that a ‘green gap’ would be created to halt any merger of Allithwaite and Grange-over-Sands.

Anne Peat, former secretary of Grange Civic Society, is worried about the effect extra housing would have on the transport network in the town.

She said: “I would be severely worried in lots of ways.

"Five hundred houses would bring 500 cars at least and the roads around here are barely coping as it is at the moment.”

Ulverston

The south of Ulverston would have to accommodate the most concentrated development in one area, where 700 homes are proposed.

In total, 1,264 houses are needed in the town and key to this is the expansion of areas around the Croftlands estate, and West End Farm, off Priory Road.

Estate agent Ralph Spours said: “An area such as Croftlands was always designed to be extended, so there are various access roads leading to fields which are essentially cul-de-sacs at the moment.

"Many residents will lose some splendid views but there is clearly a demand for development.

“When this will occur is anyone’s guess because right now the housing market is pretty flat and the general economy is still not back on its feet.

"There are concerns throughout the town about drainage, schooling and general amenities, and whether these can cope with further expansion - it is a massive thing to consider.”

Coun Norman Bishop-Rowe, who represents the south of the town, said: “We need housing, but we also need a full environmental study carried out because of last year’s flooding.

"Two of the prime sites for development are in my ward in Croftlands, and we need to know what the bottom line would be in terms of flooding and so on.

“We don’t want to put up more houses and then force people into temporary housing if it floods.”

Kirkby Lonsdale

Kirkby Lonsdale’s population could increase by 25 per cent if proposed housing sites are fully developed, according to town council vice-chairman Allan Muirhead.

While the land allocations were ‘not contentious’, they raised concerns over whether the town’s infrastructure could cope with extra residents, he said.

SLDC has identified sites at Binfold near the River Lune and west of Queen Elizabeth School, near the A65, for new homes and there would also be a mix of housing and employment units at Fairbank.

“Although the new developments would provide a boost to the town, there also needs to be improved infrastructure to cope with the increased population,” said Mr Muirhead.

“In general the town council is pleased that Kirkby Lonsdale has been given a chance to expand.”

Milnthorpe

Milnthorpe’s allocation of 186 new homes is a dramatic drop from the 790 originally proposed for the town and nearby Heversham.

However, prominent local resident Sir Christopher Audland says he is still not happy.

“It is a substantial reduction in ambition but from my point of view it is still too much and could affect the cohesion of our community.”

Two major allocations are suggested, one to the south east and one to the north west of the town.

But Sir Christopher said only ‘one or two fields’ south of the town were right for development.

“Milnthorpe has already doubled in size since World War II and it now needs a rest,” he said. “The town is already infested with traffic.”

Sir Christopher also questioned the need for industrial development.

“It is not seriously needed. There are already huge areas of industrial space in the area.”

Other areas

A further 1,878 houses could be built elsewhere in South Lakeland.

Among the larger sites are 96 houses at Hall Park, Burneside, 152 dwellings at Station Road in Holme, and 58 houses at Morewood Close, Burton-in-Kendal.

There are plans for 81 houses at Fell Close in Oxenholme and 68 for Endmoor.

Another 860 houses could be built in villages such as Arnside, Levens, Natland and Storth.

When will it all happen?

December 8 - SLDC’s Cabinet considers whether to proceed with consultation.

January 15 - Consultation on the document.

June 2011 - Publication of document.

August 2011 - Submission to Secretary of State.

May or June 2012 - Adoption of document.

Reporting team

Scott Kirk, Allan Tunningley and Daniel Orr.

To view the Land Allocation Document visit the website below.