IT'S DECISION time for a controversial residential development in Carlisle.

Carlisle City Council's planning panel will decide today on an application to build 156 new homes on land off Orton Road.

The controversial Storey Homes plan was discussed at a meeting of the planning panel in October but the decision was put off due to concerns about the layout.

Residents are concerned that the development will be overbearing as the current layout involves a series of semi-detached and two storey single dwellings on the back of existing bungalows.

Orton Road residents preferred an earlier design which was seen during the consultation period.

Councillors looked to impose a condition on the development that two-storey dwellings on plots seven to nine are replaced by bungalows but unable to do so in the meeting, they decided to defer their decision until after further discussions with the developer.

Changes have been made to the plans since the last meeting in the hope that councillors will give it the greenlight.

A document set for the city council's consideration today states: "The ‘Proposed Site Layout’ has been amended to replace the three two-storey Harper house types on plots seven to nine with two Newford bungalows.

The developer has consulted with ward councillor James Bainbridge on the changes. He called for changes to the plan at its initial hearing having liaised with residents.

Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service on Thursday Cllr Bainbridge said: "I'm happy that they've made those changes to the bungalow, that was the main sticking point.

But he said: "A couple of residents have got in touch on other matters.

"The thing that held it up last time was the bungalows and that's been pretty much resolved in the revised application. I would expect it would get approval tomorrow."

Cllr Bainbridge said: "I've mentioned my concerns to the planning officer. The problem is with the traffic fears, they're consulted with the highways authority and they've said they've got no major issues with it, they're the registered people they consult with.

"But I have got concerns about traffic on that road both on this application and the one intended to go up in the near future. I think we're going to have traffic issues on Orton Road.

"This area of Orton Road has changed over the last ten years from a rural country lane to a feeder road for the CNDR (Carlisle Northern Development Route)."

A Persimmon Homes application is also set for development on land neighbouring the site, it has previously received outline planning permission with more detail set to be revealed in a future submission.

In their report prepared for today's meeting, Storey Homes said: "The proposed amendments are considered to be acceptable and they would not have an adverse impact on the occupiers of any neighbouring properties through loss of light, loss of privacy or over-dominance."