A major local occupancy and affordable housing development is being worked up for Keswick — the biggest allocation of homes in the north of the Lakes.
Members of the Lake District National Park Authority’s development control committee paid a visit to the three acre site at Sheepdog Field in the town on Wednesday where an application for 134 homes is expected.
The LDNPA is providing pre-application advice to Atkinson Building Contractors (Penrith) about an allocated housing site adjacent to an existing development at Calvert Way in the town. They will be a mixture of detached, semi-detached, terrace houses, flats and bungalows. The site was allocated for housing in 2020 as part of the adoption of the Local Plan
Committee members were told at their August meeting that a scheme was being worked up and is under development ahead of an application being submitted.
Andrew Smith, the LDNPA’s head of development management, said at the committee meeting: “I thought it would be useful for you to see the site and have some engagement at this point.”
And he told The Keswick Reminder: “We do not have a current planning application but if we do receive an application it will be subject to full consultation and publicity at that time.”
Cllr Steve Harwood, chair of Keswick Town Council’s planning committee, attended a pre planning application meeting on Wednesday organised by the LDNPA development control committee for the developer to present initial plans.
“It is proposed to build 134 new houses on the whole of the extended field beyond the existing Calvert Way houses which would comprise 65 per cent affordable housing allocated to housing associations and 35 per cent local occupancy houses for sale,” said Cllr Harwood. “It is proposed to use the existing access off Brundholme Road as the main road into the new development with a secondary access for emergency vehicles only from the upper level of Brundholme Road.
“As this was the first sighting of the proposals it would be inappropriate to comment at this stage but there will be an opportunity to make representations when it is submitted as a formal application.”
Planning papers state that the topography of the southern part of the site offers the most scope for development. It must be of appropriate scale, design, and lay-out with a landscaping scheme to mitigate the visual impact of development on the wider landscape.
They add: “Any development should seek to establish a clear boundary, reflecting local landscape characteristics. The establishment of a tree belt would achieve this and further integrate the site into the landscape.”
Access would be through the adjacent Calvert Way development and a secondary vehicle access should be provided.
A transport assessment would be required which would include details of the development’s impact on the Crosthwaite roundabout on the A66.
The developers are also required to provide a flood risk assessment and a suitable surface water drainage strategy which demonstrates that a SUDS (sustainable drainage system) is incorporated and ensures the greenfield run-off rate is not exceeded.
