A PUBLIC consultation is currently ongoing in Askam for a proposal for new homes submitted to the Barrow Borough Council.

Nine new homes are pending decision to be built, which will all be turned into three-bedroom market houses.

These will be including additional off-street parking.

The proposed housing site is planned to take place on Duke Street, Askam 

The application was lodged on July 28 and began its consultation on July 30.

Consultations will continue until August 20.

The greenfield site covers 0.35 ha, and at present is unused. The site is bounded by the Barrow Carlisle railway line to the east, and there is public open space to the north, south and west.

In May of this year, Envirotech NW Ltd were commissioned to carry out a preliminary ecological appraisal of the land on Duke Street.

The survey was requested in connection with the new homes.

The findings were that no protected or notable species lived within 2km of the site and nearest protected site was 360m to the West of the site.

The site compromises of poor semi-improved grassland with stone walls and fences on its boundaries.

There is a railway to the East and shrub planting to the North.

Amenity grassland is located to the South.

There are no statutory sites which are connected to the location on Duke Street, and no other sites that the development would directly affect.

No species would be dispersed, nor would any impact be made upon any surrounding sites integrity.

Due to the size and location of the development the development does not fall within a SSSI impact risk zone, meaning a consultation with Natural England is not required.

However, if the development changes to become ten units or more a consultation with Natural England disease would be required if that did occur.

There is no significant flood risk on the site according to the survey.

The decision on the application is still pending.