'Housing need' overrules advice to reject estate

Cumberland Council's planning panel voted in favour of the development

Plans for dozens of homes on the edge of a city have been approved by a council, against its own officers' advice.

Cumberland Council's planning committee greenlit plans for 33 homes at Knockupworth Farm and land to the north of Burgh Road in Carlisle during a meeting on Wednesday.

Ward councillor Trevor Allison said the development would provide "high value homes at a reasonable cost" and would remove the "eyesore" of the existing dilapidated farm buildings.

The applicant's agent agreed it would remove the eyesore and said there was support from Carlisle's Labour MP Julie Minns because of a need for housing in the area.

Allison, a Conservative councillor at the Labour-led authority, said he was disappointed the plans had been recommended for refusal.

A council report said they were against the criteria set within the local plan for Carlisle, which details how different areas of the district should be developed.

Chris Hardman, the council's head of development management, told the meeting an acceptable use of the land might include redevelopment of the farmstead.

Conservative councillor Tony Markley said he accepted the housing proposal.

"There's a need for housing in the area and it's a use for the land," he said.

The plans were unanimously approved by councillors.

The project consisted of full planning permission to build four self-build properties, with outline permission for another 29 self-build homes.