Homes plan backed after increase in affordable units

The revised scheme sees 20% of its homes classed as "affordable"

Plans to build nearly 200 homes have been approved after a developer increased the number of affordable properties.

The site in Penrith is set to feature 39 such units, with Story Homes having amended a previous proposal for 29.

Nineteen of them will be available for rent and will "go to local people," the firm said.

Liberal Democrat-led Westmorland and Furness Council, which rejected the initial application in May, voted to unanimously to accept the revised plan, which will be built on land between Inglewood Road and Centurion Rise.

It will see £884,000 previously set aside for education contributions used instead for the delivery of the affordable properties, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

'Genuinely affordable'

Story Homes also proposed a contribution of £30,000 towards improvements to the adjacent Fairhill playing fields, which can be used for new play equipment and changes to the sports fields.

Adam McNally, senior land and planning manager for the housebuilder, said the company had worked with the local authority to ensure the properties on the site would be "genuinely affordable".

He added: "We’ve had positive conversations with local housing providers who are very keen on acquiring our rental units, they will go to local people."

Liberal Democrat councillor Patricia Bell, who represents Penrith North, told the committee the development would provide a "good supply of desirable housing".