Planning permission has been granted by the Lake District National Park Authority for the creation of a housing development on a green field site north of Braithwaite.
Willan Homes was given the go ahead to build 15 houses — 10 of which would be affordable — on land to the west of the A66 on the edge of the village.
There was already outline permission for the erection of 12 dwellings on the 0.62 hectare site, which sits between Thornthwaite Road and the A66, which was granted in November 2022.
Planning documents submitted to the LDNPA said the site is currently used for agriculture but follows the line of development of the rest of the village and does not exceed the village boundary.
“The intention of the proposal is to create a development that retains and enhances the existing character of the site,” said the planning application.
There are a number of protected oak, birch and goat willow trees through the location and protective barriers will be erected before building work starts. The development includes a spread of two to five-bedroom properties to address the housing need for a wider group of people and affordability, but the site is predominantly three bedrooms.
A letter of objection from Gordie Oliver said that the development was not needed as the demand for housing is very low in the area.
He said that over the last year the local housing market has become stagnant due to mortgage interest rates and the lack of buyers.
“This is evident everywhere locally and all the estate agents will confirm this is the case,’’ he said in his letter opposing the application.
“In my village —Bassenthwaite — at least five properties, including some with local occupancy, have been on the market for many months with no offers.
“Braithwaite is the same with current houses for sale on the market for many months and prices constantly reduced with still no sales.
“Allowing this development will saturate an already heavily over subscribed housing market, and lead to yet more empty properties sat for sale or with residents locked in and unable to sell.”
