A SOUTH Lakeland town could soon see more than 300 homes being built after councillors unanimously approved plans.

Friesland Construction Ltd had applied for outline planning permission to deliver up to 330 dwellings in south Ulverston.

South Lakeland District Council's (SLDC) planning committee delegated authority to grant permission for the development on allocated land at Nook Farm, between Mountbarrow Road and Urswick Road.

Councillors heard that 35 per cent of the properties would be 'affordable', with open space, highways and infrastructure provisions.

With the exception of access to the site, all detailed matters are reserved for future approval from the committee.

Two of the access points – from Mountbarrow Road and Urswick Road – would serve the majority of the site with the potential to form part of a link road should the surrounding area be developed in the future.

The type of affordable houses included in the development will be fully determined in the reserved matters stage, but would include 112 properties considered affordable to meet SLDC's housing criteria.

The additional traffic generated by hundreds of new homes was among the chief concerns for planning officers. However, this has been addressed with a yet-to-be-finalised Section 106 agreement which would see developers contribute roughly £100,000 towards planned developments at the Cross a Moor junction on the A590.

Cllr Janette Jenkinson said the plan had the potential to relieve a lack of housing in the town and act as a benchmark for future development with the site lying in a larger area of allocated land.

"I want to see this site as a beacon site – a site of mixed properties which actually is interesting, sustainable, and full of open spaces," she said.

"I would just like to plead with the developer that they do take on board a need that is required in Ulverston for McCarthy and Stone type dwellings for elderly people who are now living, perhaps in the Croftlands area, in larger properties who would like to move somewhere which is just a bit more safe and secure. We don't really have it in Ulverston."

Councillors unanimously approved the officer recommendation to delegate authority to grant outline permission subject to a number of conditions including the completion of the Section 106 agreement and the provision of affordable housing and a suitable surface water drainage system.