PLANS to demolish agricultural buildings and build nine homes in their place were approved by city councillors on Friday, despite concerns about road safety nearby.

Carlisle City Council's planning panel considered a number of applications on Friday, including a request to build nine homes at Stonehouse Farm in Hayton.

The application was approved nine votes to none, but not before councillors raised concerns about a stretch of road that would be shared by vehicles and pedestrians.

Two extra dwellings have been added to a previously approved scheme.

Case officer Stephen Daniel said: "The scale and design of the proposed dwellings is considered to be acceptable. The suggested separation distances between existing and proposed dwellings are met.

"The agent has stated that construction vehicle routing would be via the existing farm access.

"So we're seeking authority to issue approval subject to completion of a legal agreement which would secure a financial contribution to affordable housing."

The city council has asked that Anvil Homes pay £83,588 towards affordable housing.

Councillor Nigel Christian, the council's transport boss said: "I'm happy to support the officer's recommendation, I think it was very useful going out on site the other day but I am slightly concerned about the shared surface road.

Cllr Christian said: "I do understand that planning permission is effectively given for the situation but it would be I think a big improvement if there was some kind of footway along that road, especially if anybody requires a wheelchair or is pushing a child in a buggy.

"It would be I think an improvement if there was a footway that would keep those pedestrians off that road. But I do support the officer's recommendations."

Peter Allan from Cumbria County Council's highways department said: "For a shared surface in accordance with our design guide, we can have a maximum of up to 25 dwellings which is what this development falls under.

"So that's why we haven't requested any additional foot ways to be installed because it meets our requirements."

Cllr David Shepherd said: "I'm just wondering if it's possible. The Woodlands estate itself I'm concerned about the lack of footpath and the problems that could arise with pushchairs, prams, pedestrians along that Woodlands road plan and I'm just wondering if it's possible to incorporate sleeping policeman or some other traffic calming aids through the Woodlands side."

Mr Daniel said: "There is traffic calming already in place, you can see along the road there's little build outs which act as traffic calming measures."

Cllr Shepherd said he would prefer additional traffic calming measures.

Cllr Ruth Alcroft said: "I think there are some virtues to this shared access, it's a very flat surface, a very good quality surface so as a pedestrian I find it quite user friendly.

"I wondered whether something as simple as increased signage that makes drivers aware that this is shared access. I don't think as drivers we are used to roads where we are expected to share that space with pedestrians almost as an equal right.

"I think something as simple as this just to alert people to the fact that there may be pedestrians, there may be buggies, there may be children playing could be really useful just in improving the safety."

Mr Allan said that there would normally be no requirement for signage in this case.

Councillors heard that the shared surface is privately owned so imposing the signage as a condition may not be possible.

Mark Lambert, city solicitor said that the panel could make an advisory request to the developer that the signage is put up "even though it falls short of a condition."

The application was approved and chairman David Morton said that the advice about signage would be passed on to the developer.