A PLOUGHED field in Allithwaite is going to be turned into 23 new homes – despite a petition signed by 66 local residents.

South Lakeland planners have granted permission for land at the junction of Green Lane and Vicarage Lane, including 60 off-road car parking spaces.

The land is near St Mary’s Church and The Old Vicarage care home and has previously had planning applications for housing turned down, according to council documents.

But the latest plans by local developer, Russell Armer Ltd, was unanimously agreed by South Lakeland District Council’s planning committee.

The development will include two, three and four bedroom houses, and a new access to Vicarage Lane. Six affordable homes are included, including three for affordable rent and three under shared ownership, including bungalows.

Papers before the planning committee showed there was a “demand in the area” for affordable housing. Lower Allithwaite Parish Council did not object.

Fifteen representations were made to SLDC, with nine objections and the petition. It said: “The road is too narrow for two cars to pass on both Green Lane and Vicarage Lane. Fire engines and ambulances fill the whole road.

“The road also floods in heavy rainfall. Twenty three houses will prove too much for the sewer system.”

Residents suggested local families would not be able to afford the starter homes and there were better sites for housing.

Others said there were not enough services in Allithwaite to cope with more people.

Concerns were expressed about some new houses being close to a mature ash tree, which is subject to a tree preservation order (TPO).

Mark Shipman, planning department manager for SLDC, said the site had been officially allocated for new housing and concerns about the tree would be “monitored and managed”.

He said the six affordable houses represented 26 per cent of the project when the council usually asked for 35 per cent.

Mr Shipman said a report from the developer said the project would be unviable if more affordable houses were included.

Mr Shipman said: “The principle and access is acceptable to us, and so is the level of affordable housing, and the design and layout appear to be okay.”

Cllr David Williams, the Conservative councillor for Bowness and Levens, told the committee: “This is a site that’s in the local development plan for housing so it’s ripe for development. I recommend we approve.”

The application was unanimously agreed by the committee.