A PLANNING application which has received almost 500 objections will be recommended for refusal when it goes before a government inspectorate.

Controversial proposals for a housing estate on Trickett’s Field, Grange-over-Sands, were rejected by the planning committee at South Lakeland District Council.

But the final decision will be made by a national planning body following a ‘disagreement’ between the applicant and council planners.

MORE TOP STORIES: “It’s been pointed out today that some games have been played in this application,” said Coun Janette Jenkinson, when the plans were discussed at a committee meeting in Kendal.

“I feel I’ve no hesitation actually to support the refusal.”

The application was submitted earlier this year by Envidia Homes, who said they wished to build 68 homes on land close to the town’s Thornfield Road. Envidia then changed the plans by enlarging the site – although council planners said this would normally require a new application.

The applicant then submitted several further amendments, and officers ruled that they could not accept them without a new application being submitted.

As a result, the 13-week deadline for a decision was missed, prompting the applicant to submit an appeal.

“The appeal is effectively based on what is an imperfect set of plans,” planners said.

The council’s planning committee was asked at the meeting to make a judgment on the plans, which will form part of the evidence put before the planning inspectorate.

They heard from several Grange residents in opposition, including one who presented a petition with 479 signatures. Another, Valerie Kennedy, said: “This planning application should be refused because of four significant planning failures. One is site design, two is site access, three is surface water drainage and four is sustainability problems.”

Grange Town Council leader, Coun Tom Harvey, said: “This application really does have the full package of issues – design, highways, drainage and so on. Plus of course the misrepresentation of responses from a whole host of consultees.”

He later said the council planners had worked hard to engage with developers to create ‘suitable and acceptable’ plans for the town.

“As far as I can see, residents and council officers have been treated – and I don’t say this lightly – with utter contempt.

“I think it’s fair to say they are being bullied into trying to get a sub-standard proposal accepted.”

The committee voted unanimously to refuse support for the plans.

Their decision will be passed onto the planning inspectorate.