UNHAPPY residents believe council plans to build an affordable housing estate could ruin one of the main gateways into Kendal.

South Lakeland District Council is proposing building more than 20 affordable houses, in conjunction with Two Castles Housing, on land off Windermere Road.

Residents of Windermere Road have received letters from property consultants NPS, on behalf of SLDC, informing them of the authority’s “intention that development should commence next year” following the planning process.

John Atkinson, who lives in the 18th Century Hallgarth Cottage, which has been his family home for more than five generations, is concerned that his historic building would be completely surrounded by the proposed development. A site plan he received from NPS shows a scheme for 24 houses.

He also believes the development would blight one of the main entrances into the town.

Mr Atkinson, 64, has been given notice to vacate SLDC-owned land, he has rented since the 1970s, next to his cottage - which he uses to grow Christmas trees - as this is part of the proposed site.

“The council are proposing to develop the land around my property,” he said. “I live in an 18th Century farm cottage, which will be surrounded by affordable modern houses.

“This sort of development affects local residents. It won’t blend in well and it will deteriorate the main entrance to the town from the Lake District.

“Visitors will enter the town through a spralling estate. Is this the kind of entrance we want Kendal to have?”

Residents have raised a petition against the proposed development.

Tony Whittaker, principle strategy officer for SLDC, said he could not say how many houses the proposed development was for but said it would be a 100 per cent affordable housing scheme.

An application for planning permission is due to be submitted in December.