Penrith Town Council has objected to the plans to build 53 houses along with assorted infrastructure on land along Inglewood road following a meeting of Penrith Town Council planning committee. As reported by us earlier this month plans were submitted to Westmorland and Furness Council in January by local housing developers Willan Living.
Read our article on the plans for the 53 houses
The plans for 53 homes include 15 properties that will be sold at a discounted price as the affordable homes contribution.
The development will see a mix of nine property designs throughout the 53 houses proposed for the site with a mix of 2,3,4 and 5 bed properties including bungalows along with a public green space with wetland area and native trees and shrubs.
The town council said it had major concerns about the new developments adding substantial pressure infrastructure including school places and the NHS services.
It said: “All GP and medical facilities are at the southern end of Penrith and although St Catherine’s is mentioned as the nearest primary school, it is an RC school with additional admittance criteria.
“Most children will probably attend nurseries and primary schools further away eg Brunswick Road, Wetheriggs and Beaconside Schools thereby putting more pressure on these establishments. We have been informed that our primary schools are full. Likewise, secondary provision is also stretched.”
The town council also claimed the plans have no provision of features to encourage wildlife movement, migration, nesting eg swift bricks, bird boxes, bat roots, hedgehog holes. The council also claimed the plans contained little provision for community green spaces on the site.
The councils planning committee requested that if plans are approved that it be conditioned “that the developer should speak to the Town Council regarding a contribution of funding for the enhancement and development of Fairhill which is owned by the Town Council.”
The town council also claim that Policy 1 of its new Penrith Neighbourhood Plan requests developers to set out, within the design and access statements, how the proposals achieve a high-quality design and sustainable development. Retro fitting is difficult and expensive so the development should include innovative sustainable design proposals to ensure that the dwellings remain at the forefront of contemporary sustainable building design and should include sustainable building materials, recycling of grey and rainwater, high standards of thermal insulation and features that encourage a more sustainable lifestyle eg EV charging points, PV panels and air source heat pumps.
The council added that they have concerns over road safety on Inglewood Road, which it said was currently a single-track road from Stoneybeck Roundabout and had received a number of complaints to police due to speeding along the road and called for the 30mph limit to be extended.
The full plans for the development can be viewed on the councils planning portal at https://planningregister.westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk/Planning/Display/2024/2352/FPA
The public consultation period is open until the 22nd of February 2025.
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