PLANS for a 27-home estate on the historic gateway to Cockermouth have been turned down because of their closeness to a Grade II-listed Georgian mansion.

The proposals for Low Road were thrown out after Allerdale council’s planning panel heard claims that the houses would spoil the area around The Fitz.

The agent for the developer insisted that the estate was a “high quality development”, representing only a “modest extension” of a pre-approved scheme for 16 homes.

But the panel was swayed by Gillian Telford, speaking on behalf of the Civic Trust and Cockermouth Vision, who argued that the houses were “ill-placed” and would cause “immeasurable harm” to the historic countryside setting.

She said the housing development would damage a huge area parkland which she described as “a rural idyll” and the “heart and lungs” of the town.

Ms Telford stressed that Cockermouth had already exceeded its housing target, a point echoed by the town council who have also complained of overdevelopment.

She also raised road safety concerns over the junction though the county council Highways department raised no objections.

“Do the panel want a legacy of conservation and protection of heritage or concreate and destruction?” she said.

Mike Sandelands, on behalf of the developer, said the plans included flood resilience measures, 10 “affordable” houses and landscaping in keeping with the setting.

Had the plans been approved, an agreement was in place to secure £4,431 towards the upgrade of nearby play facilities at The Laureates.

Applicant Bob Slack had also offered to complete the cycle path link along Low Road, though planning chiefs advised the panel to attach no weight to this.

The panel voted to refuse permission against officers’ advice on the grounds that introduction of additional housing nearer to the Fitz, would “adversely impact” on its setting of the Fitz, contrary to local and national guidelines.

They also agreed that that harm was “not outweighed by the public benefit of the proposal.”

The motion was proposed by Independent councillor Nicky Cockburn and seconded by Conservative Leader Tony Annison, and carried by eight votes to four.

Coun Annison said: “I was swayed by the first speaker’s argument with reference to the heritage asset as you sweep down the Low Road to the right. I think it’s reminiscent of (famous landscape architect) Capability Brown type parkland and to lose that would be tragic.”