A PROMINENT property developer is likely to be given permission to build more than 20 new homes in north Cumbria if it agrees to help with the much-needed expansion of a village primary school.

Recommendations have been made to Carlisle City Council to approve an application made by Story Homes to build 22 properties on Peter Gate next to Cumwhinton Primary School, subject to the completion of a Section 106 agreement.

The plans will be discussed by members of the city council’s development control committee on Friday.

During negotiations with Signet Planning, which has submitted the application on behalf of Story Homes, Cumbria County Council raised issues surrounding the capacity at the school. However, the application states that Story Homes is willing to donate a portion of land to the county council to assist with the school’s expansion.

A letter from Graeme Innes, lead officer in development management at the county council, to Carlisle City Council states: “It is the county council’s view that the land that is proposed to be gifted to the county council should be utilised as a new school hall.

“The delivery of a new hall will enable the provision of additional classroom space in the existing school hall. It is considered that this represents the most cost-effective solution for this site given that the delivery of a brand new classroom would be dependent on the provision of a costly enlargement to the existing school hall.

“Based on a BB103 design, the county council have calculated the cost of a new hall and reconfiguration of existing school hall to be £465,386. The applicant has also agreed to provide a further contribution of £90,940 towards the school hall.”

Despite this, a number of objections have been made by people living in the local area, stating that the development will increase traffic problems on School Road, while more vehicles accessing the area will add to the problem of parents parking on Peter Gate while they pick their children up from school.

There are also further concerns that the development is on a site which has previously been mined and that there is a risk of sink holes forming, with reports that other properties have subsided in the past.


Stephen Higgs Stephen Higgs, a Conservative city councillor for Wetheral told the News & Star : “I think if there’s a need to build houses in Cumwhinton then there are certainly better sites to build them on than the one that has been proposed.

“I’ve seen first hand the problems created by traffic on that road.” Ann Dowie, who lives on School Road, said: “Peter Gate is a school road which is already severely congested at school opening and closing times. More dwellings can only add to the problem.”

A comment from John and Tessa White, who also live on School Road, added: “Any more traffic joining the road is going to be even more hazardous.”

A report on the application by case officer Angus Hutchinson states: “In terms of benefits, the proposal will provide new family homes in a sustainable location.”