RESIDENTS who objected to a £14million housing development in Egremont feel their views weren’t heard after the scheme was given the go-ahead.

Members of Cumberland Council’s planning committee approved an application by Gleeson Homes to build 164 houses on land to the south of Daleview Gardens, at a meeting held last week.

A petition against the plans, which was handed over at the meeting, had been signed by more than 400 people.

Locals have raised concerns over the impact on local services, the busy road network and existing sewage system, along with the loss of agricultural land, which is currently used to grow crops and vegetables.

Gleeson Homes say the development will provide ‘much-needed’ new build housing and investment into the area.

Helen Parks, who lives at Uldale View, and is part of an action group set up to oppose the plans, said: “I don’t think we were heard, at all. I don’t think they listened to us. They asked more questions about a peat bog – that’s not a serious issue.

“I feel like we’ve been let down massively by our own representatives. They just weren’t interested. They didn’t take into account that we live here and we know what it’s like as local people. It’s these local people who matter.

“The traffic is just getting worse and they think building this is going to make things easier. It’s not.

“We knew we had a hard battle but we weren’t going down without a fight. We’ve tried. They just don’t listen.”

The scheme will provide a mix of two, three, four and five-bed terraced, semi-detached and detached family homes, with 10 per cent of the properties to be offered as affordable housing.

Gleeson Homes previously said: “Gleeson is committed to not only providing homes for the local community, but also significant investment into the town of Egremont. The scheme represents an investment of approximately £14,000,000, and we will be creating approximately 508 jobs directly and indirectly.

“It is projected that we will be delivering approximately £850,000 to the council that will go towards creating new school places, improving local infrastructure, improving public open space, sports pitches, and children’s play areas throughout Egremont.

“We will also be providing 16 affordable homes that will help people get on the housing ladder in perpetuity.

“This site will also be the first site that increases the existing biodiversity of the land on site. We are creating wildflower meadows, attractive ponds and additional hedgerows that will grow biodiversity and support local wildlife in perpetuity.

“Finally, all these homes will be extremely energy efficient and utilise air source heat pumps that will drastically reduce heating bills, creating a future-proof development."