A FIERCELY-OPPOSED plan to build almost 150 houses across acres of rolling green field between Barrow and Dalton looks set to be rejected.
It comes after Barrow Borough Council received 85 letters of objection from furious members of the public, who penned pages of outrage over the proposed development in Dalton Lane.
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Cumbria County Council also recommended that the outline planning application from Oakmere Homes – to cover 12.47 hectares with 142 properties – should be refused due to concerns over a perceived lack of information related to transport safety, the conservation of nearby archaeological sites and potentially-increased flood risks.
With the borough council’s planning committee due to meet tomorrow to discuss the proposals, case officer Jason Hipkiss has also recommended permission be refused, listing three key reasons.
He said: “The development of the site would not represent infilling or rounding off of the existing urban area. Instead, the proposed development would result in a significant physical extension of the existing built up area outwards beyond the existing edge of Barrow.
“The siting, scale and density of this development would therefore fundamentally change the nature and character of this open farmed landscape and the visual intrusions arising from the development would not be sensitive to the local environment.”
Mr Hipkiss also raised concerns over inadequate information regarding the ecological impact of the build, including the disturbance of birds, loss of land and destruction of animal habitats.
And, he added: “The strong physical boundary and the nature and character of the surrounding countryside contribute to a clear sense of separation between Barrow and Dalton. The scale of the extension would erode the separation between Barrow and Dalton.
“Approval of the development would be contrary to paragraph 17 within the National Planning Policy Framework which seeks to recognise the intrinsic character and beauty of the countryside.”
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