Plans for a sea garden in Silloth have been given the green light by the council.

The application submitted to Allerdale Borough Council outlines a vision to provide disadvantaged groups the opportunity to enjoy being in a sea garden overlooking the beach and engaging in seaside reminiscence activities.

The space is also planned as an as outlet for providing an outdoor space for school visits and activities at Silloth Dunes.

The proposed garden would occupy an area previously used as a car park and would require only very minimal modification of existing intact dune habitat and will contain seating, timber decking and sleeper stepping stones with a native species planting scheme.

Access to the garden during both the development phase and upon opening will be via existing access tracks.

Last week, it was confirmed that, through Creative Horizons Cumbria, the scheme had received a £1,000 boost thanks to Persimmon Homes.

The funding has been pledged to through the Community Champions scheme, which supports local charities and groups.

Susan Child, director of Creative Horizons Cumbria, said: “Our trained volunteers provide a fun, friendly and engaging environment for people over 70, and those with dementia, to socialise through a range of creative reminiscence activities that invite curiosity, stimulate interest and trigger memories."

Diane Finch, sales director for Persimmon Homes Lancashire, added: “Covid-19 has had a particularly devastating impact on this section of the community, leaving them isolated and lonely, so we are proud to support a worthy organisation that is tackling that issue in a fun and practical way."

Allerdale Borough Council have confirmed that the plans fall in line with a host of their plans for the area and, in line with this, they decided to give the scheme their approval.

They said: "The Local Planning Authority has acted positively and proactively in determining this application by assessing the proposal against, primarily, the development plan policies, any duties applicable and also all material considerations, including emerging Local Plan policy, the National Planning Policy Framework and any stakeholder representations that may have been received."

View plans at allerdale.gov.uk.

Use the ref: FUL/2021/0048