RESIDENTS have launched a petition protesting the planned development of 150 houses on land off Windermere Road, Kendal.

South Lakeland District Council are preparing a development brief for the site at Lanefoot Farm, referred to by the authority as ‘West of High Sparrowmire’.

So far more than 140 people have signed an online petition against the development, with many saying it would exacerbate the flooding problem.

Brian Smith, who started the petition, said: “Building 150 houses on this site will only increase the speed and levels of surface run-off into the River Kent and local tributaries.

“We have just seen the impact flooding has had on the area - this proposed development will only increase the volume and speed of water entering the rivers.”

Lanefoot Farm resident Brian Ridyard said building on the two earmarked fields would ‘destroy the area’.

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“We get a lot of people stopping at the entrance to the farm because it’s the Gateway to the Lakes and the view is stunning – this would destroy that.”

Residents also say that the farm has a restrictive covenant with the National Trust, taken out in 1944, to prevent the fields being built on.

A spokesman for SLDC said: “The site is allocated for housing development in the Local Plan Land Allocations document, which was adopted in December 2013, following an extended period of consultation - and examination and public inquiry by an independent inspector.

“This process established the principle of housing development on the site and this latest consultation is about the preparation of a more detailed ‘development brief’ for the site, which will look at things like the type of design of housing that will be allowed.

“In preparing all its Local Plan Land Allocations, South Lakeland District Council as local planning authority took full account of the advice on flood risk from the Environment Agency and also Cumbria County Council.

“SLDC will continue to take full account of advice from both bodies in preparing the development brief and assessing later planning applications.”

A National Trust spokesperson said: “The National Trust has been assessing the covenant both legally and in relation to its charitable purposes.

“As a conservation charity, we have of course taken into consideration the natural aspect of the landscape and visual amenity of the area. However, we are also mindful that currently there is a clear and compelling need to provide more homes in South Lakeland."