CONCERNED councillors have slammed plans for an 'over intensive' 355-home estate in Ulverston.

The Manchester-based WYG Group has lodged outline plans with South Lakeland District Council for the development on land at Nook Farm on Colthouse Lane.

It comes on the back of a proposal received by SLDC in November for the construction of 141-homes in nearby Swarthmoor and an application for the development of eight homes at Ford Park submitted just before Christmas.

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Access to the development, which will offer 125 affordable homes, is proposed from Mountbarrow Road and Urswick Road.

Included in the plan is the opening up of a former watercourse to create a public walkway and cycle route through the estate.

But Ulverston West's Cllr Pat Jones said the town is "under siege" and believes the development will put added pressures on traffic, schools and care in the area.

"I welcome new houses, but not so many and the over intensification will cause uproar to residents who are very concerned," she said. "There is already pressure on the schools, especially the high school, and on the A590.

"They're not taking the environment into consideration."

And while Coun Jones said it would be good for the town's prospects, she added the "overbuilding is horrendous".

Fears over the lack of infrastructure to support the size of development has been echoed by Cllr James Airey, leader of the Conservatives on Cumbria County Council.

As well as strains on schools, transport and health services, he said there is a worry that more housing could de-value homes on the market in the area.

Coun Airey, who has already objected to an SLDC development brief calling for around 1,200 homes in the Ulverston area, said: "I have voiced huge concerns about the numbers as they are beyond Ulverston's needs."

A spokesperson for WYG group said: "The delivery of new market and affordable homes on this allocated site will help to boost sustainable growth in Ulverston."

An SLDC spokesperson said: “Both the Croftlands and Cross-a-Moor sites were allocated for residential development in the Local Plan – Land Allocations document adopted by the Council in December 2013 and are important to meet the district’s existing housing needs and to support economic growth.

“In total 11 sites with an estimated capacity of 1,161 dwellings are allocated in Ulverston.

“The council is preparing a series of Development Briefs to guide the development of major sites including these two sites.

 “A draft Development Brief for the three Croftlands sites – which together have an estimated capacity of 747 dwellings - was the subject of consultation between October and December 2014. The responses received are currently being analysed and the council expects to adopt the brief in March of this year.

 “The Development Brief for the Cross-a-Moor site was adopted on November 26 2014.

“With regard to comments about infrastructure, the council is in the process of introducing a Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) that will help fund infrastructure to support development proposed in the Local Plan."