The director of a Penrith construction company has lodged an appeal with the planning inspectorate over plans to build a new home after Westmorland and Furness Council previously refused plans.
Steve Atkinson, director of Atkinson Building Contractors, has lodged an appeal with the Planning Inspectorate to build a home between East Larches and Lynwood on Beacon Edge, Penrith.
Members of Eden local area planning committee previously refused outline planning permission for the home in March as it was considered outside of Penrith.
Appeal documents said the proposed dwelling was ‘sustainable’ and would ‘reflect the local character’.
Documents add: “There is no harm in allowing Penrith to expand and grow.”
A report prepared for the meeting in March said while the site ‘is situated in close proximity’ to Penrith, it is considered that the settlement ends at East Larches and Beauhill.
New development within ‘other rural areas’ is reserved only for the development of building conversions, rural exception affordable housing, or where policy allows, but the proposed development for a single unrestricted new build ‘fails to comply’ with the local plan, it was said.
The report adds: “There is a marked change in character and appearance of the area, where the continuous development along Beacon Edge stops at East Larches and then there is a much more open landscape where development is more scattered and interspersed by wide gaps/fields along the north side of Beacon Edge.”
However, the applicant told the committee the boundary of Penrith is a matter of ‘opinion’.
Mr Atkinson previously said: “I believe I know Penrith pretty well; I think we’ve built hundreds of houses in Penrith, I think literally over 500 affordable houses we’ve brought to this table.
“We’ve probably got something on this agenda every month so I feel like I’ve got a pretty good idea of what’s in Penrith and what isn’t in Penrith.
“I want to build one house in this area, and I think that would sit perfectly well and everybody would agree if they know Beacon Edge, one house is perfect in there.
“If you don’t pass this one house, you’re going to leave yourself vulnerable to the allocation next time, there’s going to be multiple houses built in there.”
Kate Bellwood, agent for the planning application, previously told the committee that planning policies say ‘development is promoted within and adjacent to Penrith’ and urged the committee to call for a site visit to understand the context of the site.
The application received letters of support from nearby sports clubs such as Penrith AFC, Penrith Cricket Club, Wetheriggs United FC, Penrith RUFC as well as local businesses.
Penrith Town Council said they believe this is an ‘infill development’ and do not consider that the site is outside the settlement of Penrith.
However, an objector to the plans, Peter Baker previously said: “Should the committee go against the officer’s recommendation, permission to develop this greenfield site would establish a precedent and we would likely see applications to develop other greenfield sites in open countryside along Beacon Edge.
“This is a prominent location that is visible from Carleton, the Scaws, other parts of town, Askham Fell, Lowther Castle and beyond.”
Chair of Eden local area planning committee councillor Graham Simpkins added: “The policy team have given us clear direction, many of this policy team would have been involved in the production of the plan so interpreting it is relatively simple for them.
“We have a team, we employ them to do a job and I don’t see any reason to go against what the policy team have suggested.”
The appeal is currently under consideration by the Planning Inspectorate.
By Dan Hunt (LDRS)
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