HOUSING is growing at an exponential rate in Cumbria and across the UK, with some raising concerns about the ever-increasing loss of the natural environment and, potentially, the loss of the small town feel.

Here are just some of the major housing developments which have either been given the greenlight or are awaiting approval in the Carlisle area.

St Cuthbert’s Garden Village

The garden village project is being led by Carlisle City Council, in collaboration with Cumbria County Council and is set to bring 10,325 homes to the south of Carlisle over the next 30 years.

Delivery of the garden village is key to the Carlisle Southern Link Road and is designed to take the pressure off creaking infrastructure in the north of the city as housing demand leads to growth.

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Plans for the major infrastructure project are on-target and Carlisle City Council will submit its business case to the Government in 2023.

Currock Yard

Carlisle City Council granted permission for 92 new homes at Currock Yard in May.

The site started life as a railway depot and due to its historic significance, the city council’s heritage officer raised concerns about the proposal.

They hoped to see the former pump house, which dates back to the early 1900s, retained as they believed it could be an undesignated heritage asset.

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Residents raised concerns about the increase in traffic after the homes are built but the city council case officer was satisfied with the mitigation that Peterloo Estates, the developer, have put in place.

Speckled Wood, Carleton

Persimmon Homes announced in May that it has secured land for the next phase of its Speckled Wood housing development, with plans to build 500 more homes at the Carleton site.

Andrew Laing, land director for Persimmon Homes Lancashire, said: “We are delighted to have secured the land for this development which will bring much-needed new homes and significant investment to the community.”

Former Kangol factory site, Denton Holme

Planning permission was granted in December for 39 dwellings on the derelict former Kangol factory site in Denton Holme.

Although plans were approved, councillors raised concerns about the potentially cramped living conditions.

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Speaking at the planning meeting, Councillor Nigel Christian said: "It seems to me that these units are incredibly small, I wonder if they're really future-proof for anybody who might live there. People might end up crammed inside them as families grow but perhaps incomes don't."

Moorhouse, Citadel Estates development

A controversial bid to build 14 homes in Moorhouse, on the outskirts of Carlisle, was approved in June.

Residents raised concerns at the time that approving the application would be like building 'a village within a village.'

The Citadel Estates development also brought concern for residents that the existing flooding in Moorhouse could become worse with the addition of 14 homes.

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However, an officer of Cumbria County Council said that drainage plans in the new development would actually be for the betterment of the existing situation.

Reaction

Deputy leader of the Green group on Cumberland Council Jill Perry said: “We have a need for houses but we’re building absolutely the wrong type of housing.”

Cllr Perry said that some developers are building expensive houses that are costly to run.

“We need houses that ordinary people can afford to buy.”

Local authorities can enforce that affordable housing is included in a development.

But Cllr Perry said: “What is supposedly affordable housing is only affordable in inverted commas.

“Building on green spaces is always a concern. Access to green spaces is very important to mental health but also obviously the wildlife need their habitats.”

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