AN AMBITIOUS project which seeks to build more than 100 new homes on the southern fringe of Kendal has been delayed by South Lakeland planners.

Jones Homes was seeking consent in ‘reserved matters’ including the layout, design and landscaping on the site for a new 110-strong housing estate at Milnthorpe Road, to the south of Lumley Road – but approval has been deferred by the district council’s planning committee.

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Concerns raised by the members regarding the site included surface water and foul drainage, as well as the positioning of affordable housing on the site.

The scheme proposes that 35 per cent of the proposed dwellings would be ‘affordable housing’ and councillors wanted to assure a healthy mix on site.

Cllr Peter McSweeney, who voiced his concerns over the mix of affordable housing, said: “I don’t want people to feel like they are being pushed aside.”

Surface water and flooding risk were also among the reasons why Kendal Town Council had earlier recommended refusal of the plan.

The suggestion for deferral was brought forward by Cllr Sylvia Emmott, who wanted to reassure the residents of the Stonecross area about the plan.

“I am not against this application,” Cllr Emmott said. “I just want 100 per cent confidence that the residents on my ward will feel happy or relatively happy with the application."

Cllr Philip Dixon said: "We don't want this to become a big confrontation with this application. We would like more consideration as regards the finer detail of the plan."

Outline planning permission for approximately 119 dwellings was granted for the site in April, 2015.

Twenty seven letters of objection had been received by the council from the occupiers of 17 nearby properties, including occupiers of homes adjacent to the site on Lumley Road, Helsington Laithes and Kent Park Avenue.

The planning committee meeting also heard representations from residents, who expressed their concerns about the capacity of the surface water drainage system and the adequacy of soakaways, attenuation pond and culvert to protect neighbouring properties and the A6 from flooding.

Cllr Janette Jenkinson, who supported the deferral, said: “I am disappointed that we did not have a brief for the design. If we had, we wouldn’t be having this conversation.”

The matter was deferred until the issues raised by the planning committee members can be investigated.

Cllr David Williams, who opposed the deferral, said: "I would like to apologise for my colleagues."