Persimmon Homes has submitted plans to build another 60 houses in Penrith – on land that was originally set aside for a new primary school as part of the Carleton Heights development.
The application, lodged with Westmorland and Furness Council this week, seeks full planning permission to build 60 homes, including 18 affordable properties, together with new public open space on the 2.8-hectare site east of Carleton Heights.
When outline permission for the wider Carleton development was granted in 2016 by the former Eden District Council, the land was earmarked for a new primary school to serve the hundreds of homes being built on the estate. Persimmon had agreed to provide a serviced school site and make financial contributions towards its delivery.
However, those plans have since been abandoned by the council who instead of building a new school, opted to use the developer contributions to expand Beaconside C of E Primary School. Planning permission for the extension was granted in June 2025 and construction began earlier this year.
Persimmon argues that because the education authority no longer requires the land for a school, it should now be released for housing.
The proposed development would include 42 open market homes and 18 affordable homes, with around 30 per cent of the site set aside as public open space. The developer says the scheme would provide a play area, landscaped green space and sustainable drainage features.
The application would be accessed from Primrose Drive, with an emergency vehicle access onto Carleton Hill Road.
In its planning statement, Persimmon says Westmorland and Furness Council can currently demonstrate only a 3.17-year supply of deliverable housing land, well below the five-year requirement. The developer argues that national planning policy therefore weighs heavily in favour of approving sustainable housing developments such as this one.
The proposal would extend the Carleton Heights estate onto what has remained an undeveloped field since the original masterplan was approved almost a decade ago.
The planning application will now be considered by Westmorland and Furness Council following consultation with residents and statutory bodies before a decision is made.
Full details of the application and the opportunity to comment on the plans can be found on the councils planning site at https://planningregister.westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk/Planning/Display/2026/1347/FPA
Then select "Add to Home Screen"
