Homes plan for farmland backed despite opposition

The site is made up of two fields separated by a hedgerow

Plans for more than 160 homes on farmland have been approved despite opposition.

The scheme, on the edge of Egremont near Daleview Gardens, will see 10% of the properties classed as affordable homes, Cumberland Council's planning committee was told.

Developer Gleeson Homes said it represented an investment worth millions of pounds in the town.

People opposed to the project said they feared a negative effect on traffic.

Local resident Jessica Stamper told the planning meeting at Whitehaven that it would "create a massive impact".

She said there was also farm traffic in the area and a number of "near misses", adding: "In the mornings, traffic down there is at an absolute standstill."

Fellow resident Helen Park said one of the two fields to be used was still being farmed and that more than 400 people had signed a petition opposing the scheme.

She said local services were already struggling and questioned the need for more homes, telling councillors there were 2,000 empty properties across Cumbria.

Planning officer Christie Burns told members it was not considered to have a "detrimental impact" on either the surrounding area or highway safety and it was recommended for approval subject to a number of conditions.

Councillors then backed the scheme in a vote, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.