DEVELOPERS will contribute hundreds of thousands of pounds towards a new £6.1m roundabout on the A590 after plans to build more than 200 homes in Ulverston were approved.

Leyland-based developers Rowland Homes and chartered surveyors Lea Hough and Co won permission from South Lakeland District Council to put 235 properties on land at Gascow Farm, in the south of the town.

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Cumbria County Council has requested they stump up around £365,000 towards the Cross-a-Moor improvement, at the junction of Pennington Lane and Main Road near Swarthmoor.

The junction is being designed to increase car capacity and reduce delays as nearly 1,000 homes could soon be arriving in the area.

Cumbria County Council's highways department estimates new residents would add 69 trips to the junction at peak times in the morning.

The final figure to be contributed will be agreed at a later date.

Approval was granted for the homes on the 11.7 hectare plot - one of the largest in South Lakeland's Local Plan - despite concerns raised the new homes could add to flooding problems.

Cllr John Clough, who represents Ulverston on SLDC, said: "I know this area very well. This winter was very mild but when you get one like Storm Desmond it will flood."

Alistair Skelton, speaking on behalf of the applicants, said they had 'done a lot of work to ensure they are fully supported by professionals, environmentally and technically'.

A report to SLDC's planning committee said surface water would be directed towards an attenuation pond which would then be discharged through an existing watercourse and into Morecambe Bay.

There will be a mix of one, two, three, four and five bedroom homes.

Sixty will be affordable - lower than the 35 per cent usually sought by the council.

But the committee was told a review found the site was not viably capable of giving the full amount - 82 - because of 'abnormal development costs and requested contributions to the roundabout'.

There will be three areas of public space, including a children's play area.

Access will be from Priory Road and the road leading into the development will be widened with pedestrian and cycle routes added.

Cllr Sylvia Emmott raised concerns about the 40mph speed limit on the entrance to the development, saying turning right across traffic travelling at that speed was 'dangerous'.

But Cllr David Williams said: "I think this is an excellent site. It's refreshing to see a new developer moving into the area and satisfying our requirements and law. Its proposals are superb."

The proposal was passed with eight votes against three, with one abstention.