PLANS to demolish an existing home and build a new modern three-bedroom single storey unit in north Cumbria have been refused by Cumberland Council.

The application was for a site at The Saltings in Port Carlisle and the decision was taken by a planning officer at the unitary authority on Monday (November 18).

According to the decision notice planning permission was refused because the applicant had submitted insufficient information to "demonstrate that the development can achieve the requirements for flooding within the site to achieve the sea level rise allowance".

And, according to the officer's report, the Environment Agency raised concerns over the absence of an acceptable flood risk assessment and the organisation objected to the application and recommended that planning permission was refused.

A spokesman said: "The current minimum floor level does not correctly take the impact of sea level rise into account and therefore fails to demonstrate the development will be safe for its lifetime."

The report states that the planning application received one letter of support from a member of the general public.

It adds: "The property is on an elevated site and there will be a prominent view from within the street scene.

"The orientation of the properties within the locality all have a frontage that overlook onto the coast. The properties retain a similar form in roof slope.

"The proposal retains a similar form to those that adjoin the site and the proposal retains the character and appearance of the locality as such not to detract from the distinctiveness of its location and to integrate well with existing development."

According to the decision notice the applicant has been advised that they can lodge an appeal to the Secretary of State for the Environment if they disagree with the decision.

The report states: "If you want to appeal against your local planning authority’s decision then you must do so within six months of the date of this notice."