Plans for 255 homes to be built in Workington are taking a step forward.

The project is part of a 290-home estate on Ashfield Road South, of which 35 homes are already under construction.

Now Lovell Partnership is seeking detailed permission for the second phase of the estate.

It would include: 

• 34 two-bedroom units

• 178 three-bedroom units

• 43 four-bedroom units

A number of these homes would be affordable.

They would include 23 homes available for rent and 23 which would be sold at a discounted price.

They would be a mixture of two- and three-bedroom properties.

But Allerdale council’s housing services said there was more need for four-bedroom affordable homes.

“The 2016 Housing Study showed that the highest affordable need was for four-bed properties followed by a lower need for three and one bed properties for older people. 

“There was a lesser need identified for two-bed properties for older people and five-plus bed properties for general needs and older people.”

The application is due to be considered by Allerdale council’s development panel at a meeting on Tuesday.

On the same day, Lovell Partnership will also seek permission for an additional 12 homes on the site.

But Workington Town Council asked the development panel to refuse the proposals amid concerns about tree removal and lack of open space.

A report prepared ahead of the meeting said the town council’s planning committee “considered the design of the site and felt it would benefit from more open green space and that the addition of the twelve new units would be detrimental to that aim.”

It added: “In addition, they expressed concerns about the removal of trees and would seek assurances that this process would be properly managed and trees replaced as necessary. 

“The committee also seeks assurances about the drainage of the site and how this will impact the nearby beck. 

“The committee felt that the design of the buildings, contrary to the design aim, actually appear very uniform and would benefit from more variation.”

Allerdale council’s development panel will meet on Tuesday at 1pm at Allerdale House in Workington.