Controversial plans to build 370 homes in Whitehaven have been knocked back for a second time  - due to road safety fears.

Members on Copeland Council's planning panel have gone against their own officers’ advice and voted against the proposed development at Harras Moor.

Highways safety and the additional traffic generated on Harras Road were cited as reasons to reject the application.

Councillors had voted to refuse the plans in September 2019 and the decision was deferred.

Homes England want to build the houses on 23 hectares of land surrounded by the Highlands, Hillcrest and Red Lonning housing estates. Vehicle access would be via Harras Road and Caldbeck Road.

Members voted 5-3 against the proposed scheme when it was put back before the planning panel on Tuesday.

Homes England said they had been working with the council and other stakeholders to address the concerns that were raised at the last meeting.

An independent review of the highway reports submitted with the original plans had been carried out, which found the reports were “sufficiently detailed” and “consistent with best practice.

But some councillors said they were still concerned about highways safety and increased traffic.

A number of objectors spoke in opposition to the scheme, including Mike Gracey, who lives at Harras Road.

He said: “It is three years since this application was refused on the grounds of access and surrounding infrastructure. What improvements have been made to address these objections? None, as far as I can tell.”

Mr Gracey suggested that residents of the proposed estate would use Harras Road as the quickest route into Whitehaven town centre, rather than going via Hensingham and Inkerman Terrace.

He outlined some of the ongoing problems on Harras Road, which included the footpath being unsafe and the road only being 5m wide.

“There have been incidences where car wing mirrors on hugging the kerb to avoid oncoming traffic, have brushed pedestrians’ arms,” he said.

“We still have the bottleneck at the bridge under the A595, one lane traffic with no safety precautions for pedestrians.”

Mr Gracey said a recent traffic survey showed that 29,247 cars used the road going past St James’ Junior School in a week.

Dave Todhunter, who lives at Main Street in Hensingham, raised concerns over drainage and said the sewers in Hensingham, which the plans propose to discharge into, are “already overloaded”.

Graham Roberts, who represents the Harras ward on Whitehaven Town Council, said the proposal was “totally flawed” and he objected due to traffic, scale, drainage and ecology.

He said: “This former farm access road is handling volumes of traffic well above its capacity. Overloading such a narrow and unsustainable road will eventually impact the whole area.”

Councillor Joseph Ghayouba, who represents Whitehaven Central on Copeland Council, said the development would “create a lot of issues” particularly around the infrastructure and roads.

He said he disagreed with the independent review, which estimated that only 28 per cent of traffic would use Harras Road.

Jonathan Behan, of Homes England, told the meeting that since acquiring the site in 2017, they had worked closely with officers to shape the outline scheme.

He said the proposed development would “help bring prosperity to Copeland”.

Jan Laurens, agent for the developer, said the proposed development would make a “big contribution” to Copeland’s future housing supply.

He said Homes England would undertake works to improve the current drainage conditions on Harras Road.

Mr Laurens added that there were “no justified reasons” on highways grounds to refuse the application.

Councillors who voted to refuse the application were asked to give reasons for doing so.

Councillor Graham Minshaw, said: “This was refused three years ago and the application has come back with no improvement.

“It’s a case of the Emperor’s New Clothes. It’s still a dog’s dinner. Harras Moor is not suitable. All the locals know that.”

Councillor Tom Higgins, who also voted against the scheme, said: “That road is not suitable. We know in our heart of hearts that road is not suitable at the moment.”

READ MORE: Concerns raised after plans re-submitted for 370 new homes at Harras Moor in Whitehaven