Controversial plans to build a huge new housing estate in north Cumbria have been given the go-ahead – despite a raft of objections from local residents who believe it will become a “rat run”.

At a meeting of Carlisle City Council’s development control committee, members approved plans put forward by Gleeson Regeneration to build 100 homes on land off Briar Lea Court, Longtown.

The plot is stuck between the busy A6071 and Old Road with many residents in the area believing that the road network cannot cope with an estate so big.

One of their primary concerns when it comes to road safety is that they say the estate will be used by motorists looking to take a shortcut.

In 2015 the company got permission to build 61 houses on the same site with just one entry and exit point for vehicles.

However, they came back in with revised plans for 100 dwellings and in order to accommodate the extra traffic tabled plans which included two points of access.

Speaking against the plans at the meeting in the Civic Centre, John Mallinson, city councillor for Longtown, called it an “unsuitable development”.

“Members, if you approve this today you will be creating a rat run, be sure of it,” he added.

“Briar Lea Court, I accept that the land was dedicated for housing in the local plan in 2015 and 61 dwellings were granted. This is for 100 houses and entirely out of kilter with the original one.

“It’s a significant increase.”

In total, between the two applications the city council has received 78 letters of objection.

Many had a problem with drainage and flooding.

Resident Frank Johnston, from Old Road, spoke at the meeting.

He told councillors: “This is not a potential problem, it’s an existing problem that’s been going on for 40 years.”

Ed Alder, representing the applicants, told the committee that all statutory consultees had no objections to the plans and it wasn’t up to developers to sort out existing problems, with things like drainage, just make sure plans were satisfactory.

More concerns were raised about the provision of “affordable” housing.

The estate will include no houses that are legally classed as affordable, which is usually common practice for a development this size.

As part of the planning permission Gleeson must pay almost £80,000 towards the upkeep of children’s play areas in Longtown and a further £24,000 to Cumbria County Council support schools provision.

They will also have to maintain the informal open spaces within the site.