By Duncan Bick

Published at 13:16, Thursday, 31 January 2013

PEOPLE are being asked to make their feelings known about where almost 3,000 new homes should be built.

Eden District Council is launching a major public consultation on its future housing sites.

And it has earmarked areas of Penrith as the priority for development.

Council leader Gordon Nicolson said: “The need for new housing in Eden is well-documented, especially affordable and social housing, as we seek to address the needs of a growing and ageing population.”

The total number of homes Eden needs over the next 12 years is estimated at 2,792. These could be built on any of 63 sites across the district, all of which are detailed in the consultation document. More than 2,000 of the new houses – 60 per cent – are earmarked for Penrith, which has not had many developments over the last decade.

Another 20 per cent will be spread over the market towns of Kirkby Stephen, Appleby and Alston.

The rest will go to 46 villages in the district which have potential to support developments.

The council has said it wants to hear views from the public on the proposed sites, and will consider any alternatives suggested.

“This is not a done deal,” said Paul Fellows, a senior planning officer for the council.

Eden’s population is expected to grow by 2,500 by 2025.

It also has large numbers of people over the age of 65.

Currently, there are more than 1,000 names on the council’s waiting list for affordable homes. A home in the district typically costs eight times the average salary in the area.

The council aims to make 30 per cent of the new homes affordable housing. This figure could go up or down on individual developments.

The homes would be built over a phased period. The rate of building would depend on the state of the property market.

The consultation document can be seen online via www.eden.gov.uk.

It will also go on display in community centres and libraries around the district. The council is also running a series of public exhibitions in March.

The consultation begins on February 22 and ends on April 22.

dbick@cngroup.co.uk

Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk