More than 4,300 new homes could be built across Eden over the next 14 years.

It follows the adoption of a new Local Plan at a meeting of Eden District Council in Penrith on Thursday.

Councillors voted 32-1 in favour of the document becoming policy with one abstention.

If developers come forward, it could means Penrith getting 2,178 new homes, Appleby could get 392, Kirkby Stephen could expand by 305, and an extra 131 in Alston.

Other smaller housing schemes could also be permitted at Shap, Tebay and Brough. The plan also provides for smaller types of development in more than 100 villages and hamlets in Eden.

The 142-page document has been five years in the making and will be used to guide the council’s planning committee until the year 2032.

John Owen (Con, Penrith), the council’s member for Eden Development, said the process had been “long and difficult” but that new development helped sustain local services.

John Thompson (Con, Penrith West) said the Local Plan would provide council planners with clarity.

The Local Plan has undergone several rounds of discussion, consultation and modification.

It was declared “sound” by planning inspector, Mervyn Middleton. He said Eden has seen growing numbers of second home owners and retirees moving in, inflating house prices and driving young people away in search of houses and jobs. Developers will have to provide an affordable housing allocation of around 30 per cent on some schemes, or make a contribution to the council towards the problem.

“Relative house prices are more likely to fall if there is more choice and competition in the private housing market sector,” wrote Mr Middleton. “If this were to happen it would make Eden more attractive to indigenous young adults wishing to stay and economically active migrants wishing to relocate.”

Kevin Hutchinson, the council’s planning policy manager, said the council had not made “sufficient allocations” schemes available to housing developers in the past.

The chamber at Penrith Town Hall was packed with at least 20 members of the public. They are opposing a separate development document called the Penrith Strategic Masterplan. It proposes up to 5,500 new homes behind the landmark Beacon and a major business park near Junction 41. Questions were raised about the Penrith masterplan but deputy chief executive Matthew Neal said they were not relevant.

At the close of the council hearing, there was angry exchanges as council officials asked the public to move an impromptu meeting away from the council chamber where another committee was taking place.