A plan for an estate of self-build homes in Cumwhinton has been revived.

In a vision outlined in an application submitted to Carlisle City Council, a revised proposal for development of 16 housing plots at Holme Meadow, Cumwhinton was outlined.

A previous application, that sought outline planning permission for the erection of five market dwellings and nine self/custom build dwellings on land north of Holme Meadow, Cumwhinton was reported and considered by the City Council on June 11th 2021 but was rejected.

The accompanying report by the Council’s Development Manager, having undertaken the planning balance, concluded that the benefits outweighed the harm and recommended approval of the scheme subject to the completion of a Section 106 Agreement and imposition of relevant conditions.

However, by a majority of one, the Development Control Committee refused permission.

They said: “The proposed development will lead to an unacceptable intrusion into the open countryside and therefore conflicts with criterion 3 of Policy HO2 of the Carlisle District Local Plan 2015- 2030."

In July 2020 Custom Build Homes, supported by the Right to Build Task Force and the Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government, published the results of an assessment undertaken on behalf of the City Council on custom and self-build demand which covered the Carlisle district and not exclusively St. Cuthbert’s Garden Village.

This assessment identified a total demand population of 2,803 people who were actively looking to build their own home in the district.

The applicant expressed their belief that the revised plans should be approved on the basis of the clear demand.

The said: "The proposal will lead to economic, social and environmental benefits."

They added that any negatives of the scheme are outweighed by the benefits of the "overall enhancement of the wider landscape character and the delivery of much needed self/custom build plots in Carlisle district".