A brother and sister behind plans to develop a West Cumbrian business site have been told they can go ahead with their project.

Brian Graham, who owns the site with Helen Ostle, wants to demolish three commercial buildings at a site known as Graham’s Garage in Prospect and replace them with up to 20 houses.

Allerdale council's development panel approved the scheme in June but, as the decision went against planning policy, it had to be advertised before planning permission could be formally granted.

Further objections were then received, meaning the council’s development panel had to consider the application again.

Objectors raised concerns about the sewerage requirements but Richard Evans, the agent for the application, pointed out that United Utilities had no objections to the plans.

The development panel voted in favour of approving the scheme, with 10 councillors for, one against and no abstentions.

A spokesman for Allerdale council said it was not the first time an application had had to be reconsidered for this reason.

When the plans were approved in June, Mr Graham told the panel that bringing the buildings up to scratch would cost more than they would be worth and that the only viable option was to demolish them to make way for a residential development.

He said: “Me and my sister have normal jobs, we are not property developers. It’s really becoming a white elephant and, in my opinion, if it’s ignored it’s going to put us both in financial straits.

“We’ve only recently inherited this property and it’s inevitably going to head for dereliction unless something happens quickly.”

At the moment, three commercial units occupy the site – a vehicle repair garage, upholsterers and a caravan breakers. The commercial units have been on the site since 1938 with a showroom being built in the 1970s. During the 1950s and 1960s there was also a petrol station on the land.