Plans for 32 new homes in Dalton refused by Barrow Council

Mulberry Homes Ltd were hoping to be granted approval for the erection of 28 detached dwellings and four flats, including new site entrance and associated works on land adjacent to Long Lane and Newton Road.

Cllr Colin Thomson, vice-chair of the panning committee, said: "This application was refused as we received more than 100 objections letters.

"Obviously there is the issue that the area floods easily as well.

PLANNING: Cllr Colin Thomson

"It was a unanimous decision from the council."

The planning committee meeting took place at Barrow Town Hall on August 10 but Mullberry Homes Ltd had their case by the council as 112 objections letters with none in favour was too high to ignore.

One objection letter from a Newton Road resident said: “I strongly and thoroughly object to this application. I reside in the area affected by this application.

"My first major concern which has not been addressed or mentioned by the developer is the associated flood risk it poses to Schoolwaters and the land I own to the rear of my property. This land and the adjoining landholdings are drained via a field drain which crosses under the fields and empties across Long Lane. This is not mentioned in the planning documents, and should this drain be cut off, it will likely lead to large scale flooding in the surrounding area during winter.

Cumbria Highways had no objection to the proposals but stated that a contribution must be made to the infrastructure that the build will require at £3,190 per dwelling, which is £91,560 total.

The Morecambe Bay Clinical Commissioning Group also requested the developers should pay £13,207 to go towards extension and reconfiguration at the Dalton surgery as the proposed site may provide 115 new patients. They said, “failure to secure the contribution we have requested effectively means that we are objecting to the application”.