Carlisle hospice happy with plans for nearby new housing estate

By Victoria Brenan

Last updated at 11:34, Thursday, 27 September 2012

Bosses at Eden Valley Hospice are confident 300 new homes on land nearby will not affect their ‘tranquillity.’

Paul Cookson, head of finance and support services with the Carlisle hospice, said they had been in talks with developer Fred Story over his plans for a new housing scheme on land south of Hammonds Pond, between Durdar Road and Oaklands Drive, close to the hospice.

Mr Cookson said they had been encouraged by Story Homes ‘willingness to work with us’ on the scheme, which will see a strip of land left undeveloped on to act as a buffer zone between the housing and the hospice.

Mr Story’s latest scheme is for 295 properties on 31 acres of grazing land. Its planning application shows a mix of two, three and four-bedroomed homes including detached, semi-detached and terraced houses, and a small number of apartments.

Fifty-nine would be designated as ‘affordable’, either for sale to local buyers at a discount to market value or for rent through a housing association.

Fred Story, chief executive of Story Group, said it would be a high quality development.

“It will secure a lot of jobs,” he said. “Probably 50 construction jobs for 10 years and more in the supply chain.”

Upperby councillor David Wilson said there was a need for affordable housing in the area.

“I would welcome any affordable housing,” he said. “I think it sends a positive message about Carlisle, this and other developments, that we are a growing city.”

Mr Wilson said he was also supportive of the construction employment a housing development would secure.

“We all have to support local firms employing local people,” he added. “But it’s still very early days and it has a planning process to get through.”

The first 100 homes could be ready by 2015.

First published at 11:26, Thursday, 27 September 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk