PLANS for 60 new affordable homes in Brampton have been unanimously approved by members of Cumberland Council's planning committee.

Castles and Coasts Housing Association was hoping to develop a site on land to the south of Greenhill in the Cumbrian market town.

According to the planning report the application site relates to an unallocated greenfield site located on the south-western edge of Brampton to the south of built housing at Greenhill on the eastern side of the C1046.

The committee met at Allerdale House in Workington on Wednesday (October 16) to consider a number of planning applications.

The housing association's application also requested full planning permission for associated open space and infrastructure as well as one open market building plot.

Planning officer Suzanne Osborne told members that the affordable homes would be a mixture of right to buy and affordable rental properties.

Tom Adams, a local resident who objected to the application, told members that he was against it because it represented overdevelopment, the nutrient neutrality plan was unclear and that there would be an increased volume of traffic.

A spokeswoman for the applicant said that there was a shortfall in the supply of affordable housing and added: "This is designed to meet the needs of the community."

Councillor Jimmy Grisdale (Seaton, Labour) said he felt the speed limit in Brampton should be extended and added: "It would be better to make it 30mph all the way into Brampton."

Councillor John Mallinson (Houghton and Irthington, Conservative) proposed that they should follow the officer's recommend planning permission subject to conditions including an additional one to extend the 30mph to a nearby roundabout.

Councillor Roger Dobson (Corby and Hayton, Lib Dems) asked if the 30mph limit would have to have streetlights and he was told that areas with street lights were automatically 30mph but you could also impose the limit on unlit areas.

When the matter was put to the vote the planning application was unanimously approved including the additional condition.

The other conditions of the agreement include:

A financial contribution of £6500 to fund a Traffic Regulation Order to deal with changes to the speed limit order including its publication, implementation and ancillary work; and

The provision and maintenance of a satisfactorily nutrient neutral development to mitigate the impact of phosphates pollution from this development on the River Eden SAC.

The planning report states: "If the S106 legal agreement is not signed, authority be given to the head of development management to issue refusal."