CONTROVERSIAL plans for an affordable housing development in Cartmel will be determined this week.

The scheme for 11 affordable homes for rent has led to dozens of objections from locals but has been recommended for approval by planners.

It will be voted on by South Lakeland District Council's planning committee on Thursday.

The organisation behind the £1.4m development - the not-for-profit housing provider Home Group - say the houses at Pit Farm are desperately needed "in a village where average house prices are more than 12 times local salaries".

Elsa Brailey, Home Group's head of development, said: “There is a crisis in rural housing where homes are no longer affordable for the vast majority of residents. In the Cartmel area alone there are 71 households in need of affordable housing.

“There has been a vocal group of people who are opposed to the development but we’ve also heard from a considerable number of people who want to see these homes built as they need somewhere affordable to live.”

Cheryl Hill, co-owner of Hales of Cartmel - a confectioner and gift shop, said: “We own a business in the village but we’ve found that house prices are outside many families’ affordability. If Cartmel wants to remain a village where people can live and work locally and children who attend the school come from the village then more affordable housing needs to be built."