A REPORT about the planning application to build 32 homes at Graythwaite Manor Hotel, Grange-over-Sands (Gazette, March 29, 'Hotel homes face a backlash form locals') quoted some of the objections that we have submitted about this development. Unfortunately, it did not mention our main objections.

South Lakeland District Council’s Local Plan includes allocated development sites in Grange-over-Sands and Kents Bank. They were identified as viable residential development sites for 35 per cent affordable housing, subsidised by 65 per cent market housing, and will meet SLDC’s estimated housing need, for Grange-over-Sands, until 2025.

Graythwaite Manor is not one of these allocated sites. It is also outside SLDC’s approved development boundary for Grange-over-Sands, therefore it should not be given planning permission.

Recent building on some of Grange-over-Sands’ allocated development sites has already provided more new homes than SLDC estimated were needed by 2018. There are currently 181 market homes, in Grange-over-Sands, being advertised for sale. They include a wide range of properties - therefore it cannot be argued that there is an urgent need for more market housing in our area.

A cornerstone of SLDC’s housing policy is that all residential developments must include 35 per cent affordable homes. The Graythwaite Manor planning application does not include provision for any affordable homes.

The developers are seeking to offset this requirement with a section 106 agreement, but they also state that the development may not be viable with an equivalent value 106 agreement.

Grange-over-Sands does not need any more market homes and it certainly does not need an additional 32 market homes in Grange-over-Sands’ Conservation Area built on an environmentally important limestone pavement, outside Grange-over-Sands’ development boundary.

Valerie H. Kennedy

Kents Bank