Hundreds protest about Kendal housing plan (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Hundreds protest about Kendal housing plan

8:00am Thursday 6th December 2012 in News By Steven Bell, Senior Reporter

HUNDREDS of residents are campaigning against a developer’s bid to build 30 ‘affordable’ homes in Kendal.

Two Castles Housing Association has applied for planning permission for land at Hallgarth Cottage, at the top of Windermere Road.

But Hallgarth Action Committee (HAC), made up of 200 residents, is opposed to development on the greenfield site on one of the main entry routes to the town and wants councillors to throw out the scheme. The group has hired consultants PFK Planning to fight their cause and said the suspension of a public inquiry into South Lakeland District Council’s Land Allocations Document, made it a ‘pertinent’ time to speak out against the proposal.

The land is included in the SLDC document identifying possible sites for 6,000 homes by 2025 - but a planning inspector is yet to rule on whether the dossier is ‘sound’.

HAC chairman Julie Johnson said: “We understand the need for affordable housing for local people - however, we are fundamentally opposed to development on this site.

“We believe that any development on this steeply sloping and prominent site will have a detrimental impact on the open character of the landscape at this important entrance to Kendal and at the very edge of the Lake District National Park.

“We also have very serious concerns over the highways and drainage and the design of the scheme.”

The committee voiced concerns about increased traffic congestion, safety worries over a new junction they fear would create an ‘accident blackspot’ and increased flooding risk, which was demonstrated after a freak storm in June.

And they are also upset that the plans include demolishing centuries-old Hallgarth Cottage.

Mrs Johnson continued: “Residents have serious concerns that this plan introduces an extremely high risk of surface water cascading downstream into the Hallgarth estate and an increase of pressure on the sewage network.

“Many residents have already experienced problems and are extremely nervous about this development and the removal of the current natural drainage which the greenfield site provides.”

Rob Brittain, property services director at Two Castles Housing Association, said: “Two Castles has listened to the concerns of local residents in relation to this site and, to address these, we are submitting amended proposals to our plans which include a more detailed drainage system and improved highway access.

“A high need for affordable housing has been identified for this area and our revised plans show our commitment to continuing to provide high quality, affordable housing for local people in housing need.”