Controversial plans to build 24 new homes in the centre of a village look set to get the go-ahead despite opposition.

Villagers objected to Mr H Tyson’s application to develop land at Midtown Farm in Beckermet due to concerns including the safety of the proposed access from Hunter Rise and increased traffic on nearby Morass Road.

But Copeland Council officers have recommended the outline planning application for approval when it is considered by the authority’s planning panel at 2pm today.

The approval is recommended subject to a legal agreement to ensure four of the homes would be sold at 80 per cent of their market value and the developer would contribute £16,300 towards traffic-calming measures.

A council report prepared ahead of this afternoon’s meeting said: “In overall terms, this is considered to be a sustainable form of development located within the designed settlement boundary of one of the borough’s local service centres.

“The impacts of the development are not considered to significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits of the development, therefore the application is recommended for approval.”

Sixty-nine people originally opposed the plans and, even after amendments were made, 15 people retained concerns including increased flood risk and a lack of need for new homes.

Residents said land at Croft House Farm already had approval for a 14-home development which was still on the market.

Cumbria County Council’s highways department had initially recommended refusal but, following amendments, recommended approval subject to conditions addressing concerns including details of the visibility splays and access.

The report said: "The accident data available to the highway authority shows no conclusive evidence of any accident hotspots, so the authority must therefore consider whether the proposal will increase the risk of an accident to an unacceptable level, which they do not believe it does."

The county council also requested a condition relating to surface water drainage as the lead local flood authority.

Beckermet with Thornhill Parish Council felt the plans for new housing were the sign of a healthy village but raised concerns about the junction at Morass Road and Hunter Rise, which they said was already problematic before the extra traffic new homes would bring.

They also suggested a path to Fleming Drive for pedestrians and cyclists and restrictions on construction arrangements due to lack of space on the access road.

The applicant had previously submitted plans for 28 homes on the land but those were withdrawn.