A BRAND new housing estate made entirely of affordable homes could be built in Carlisle.

The Riverside Housing Association has revealed it wants to build 69 new homes in a dedicated social housing scheme next to Aldi, on Dalston Road.

Atkinson Building Contractors has submitted plans for the scheme near John Robert Gardens.

The application says: "The development is an entirely affordable housing scheme to be managed by Riverside Housing as the registered provider. The homes are all proposed to be affordable rent in tenure."

There would be 68 homes in total. Thirty of these would be two bedroom homes, 34 would have three bedrooms and four would have four bedrooms.

The statement to planners says: "The site aims to provide 121 spaces for residents and 13 additional spaces for visitor parking."

Each house would have space for two cars.

Cars would be able to access the new site via Stanhope Road and via the access road from Aldi to Dalston Road.

The Dalston Road site was formerly used for industrial works, but has been disused for a number of years, with remnants of concrete slabs identifying its historic use.

The land is now largely made-up ground with irregular levels, covered with self-seeding plants, brambles and shrubs.

The statement goes on to say: "The houses have largely been designed in semi-detached arrangements, with access to rear gardens being via 1m wide footpaths to rear garden gates.

"This development meets the criteria as set out in the relevant national and local policies, as well as offering the client good quality for money and contributing to demand for social housing which meets the needs of local people."

The application, which was submitted earlier this month, has so far attracted one objection.

A member of the public wrote: "The only reason for me objecting is that at the moment the traffic on Dalston Road is bad as it is. And with the entrance to Aldi it's not safe at all."