29 dwellings at Land to the East of Pennington Lane, Swarthmoor, Ulverston

What was proposed

The application proposed 29 two-storey homes, including affordable housing, with roads, footpaths, parking, landscaping, biodiversity measures and infrastructure works.

“SUMMARY 1.1 Full planning permission is sought for the erection of 29 dwellings (including 35% affordable housing provision) together with associated roads, footpaths, car parking, landscaping, biodiversity enhancements, and infrastructure works on Land to the east of Pennington Lane, Swarthmoor.”

“The application is reported to Planning Committee, in accordance with the Council’s Constitution, as the officer recommendation is contrary to the Parish Council’s recommendation and the proposal is for residential development comprising more than 100 dwellings when taken together with the neighbouring outline planning application by the same applicant that is also being presented to the same Committee meeting.”

Officer report

The site and surroundings

The site was a 1.3-hectare agricultural field within the Cross-a-Moor housing allocation, beside Pennington Lane, a nursery, homes and open countryside.

“SITE DESCRIPTION 4.1 The application site is located to the west of Swarthmoor and to the southeast of Pennington village and comprises a rectangular agricultural field extending to approximately 1.3 hectares.”

“As above, the remaining part of the housing allocation is the subject of a separate outline application by the same applicant. The two sites are separated by an existing hedgerow. SITE PLANNING HISTORY Application Ref: SE/2014/0005 Proposal: 160-170 UNITS Decision: HISTORIC DECISION Decision Date: 06/06/2014”

Officer report

Earlier planning history

Earlier proposals included applications for housing, reserved matters and an access variation, with one housing application approved and later applications withdrawn.

“Application Ref: 2024/0021/RMA Proposal: Application for approval of reserved matters following outline approval SL/2017/0681 (Erection of 27 dwellings, including 35% affordable provision, public open space, and associated infrastructure) Decision: Withdrawn Decision Date: 09/01/2025”

“Application Ref: 2024/1649/FPA Proposal: Variation of condition 5 (Access) attached to outline approval SL/2017/0681 (Erection of 27 dwellings, including 35% affordable provision, public open space, and associated infrastructure) Decision: Withdrawn Decision Date: 09/01/2025”

Officer report

Concerns from local people

The parish council and neighbouring occupiers raised concerns about privacy, children’s safety, traffic, parking, flooding, infrastructure, landscape, wildlife and construction impacts.

“Loss of Privacy, Overshadowing and Safeguarding - The development sits immediately adjacent to the boundary of the existing Nursery on Pennington Lane. The proposal would result in unacceptable overlooking of nursery facilities, loss of privacy, and safeguarding concerns for children. The application contains no robust safeguarding mitigation measures.”

“A total of 34 representations were received from neighbouring occupiers. 29 of these raised objections and 5 made comments. The concerns/comments made can be summarised as follows: - Existing traffic congestion in the area, including on Pennington Lane, is significant and a hazard, particularly during term time during school drop-off and pick-up times when parents park all the way down Pennington Lane - Lack of pavements within Pennington - A parking area is needed for…”

Officer report

People who spoke

The Principal Planning Officer presented the applications and explained the key planning issues, while members asked questions about land ownership, links between developments and drainage.

Why members deferred it

Members heard that the proposed permeable access-road surfaces were not adoptable and that changing them could affect the drainage strategy.

“The Principal Planning Officer stated that further comments had also been received from the Local Highway Authority in relation to the permeable surfacing proposed for the 2 main access roads into and through the site from Pennington Lane. Officers had stated that permeable paving would not be adoptable so a road surface needed to be proposed that would be to adoptable standard.”

“In relation to the second query, the Lead Local Flood Authority (LLFA) had originally said that the drainage strategy proposed for the full application development was acceptable but had since re-looked at the surface finish proposed for the access roads into and through the site and had now stated that these should be to adoptable standard.”

Minutes

The vote

Councillors proposed and seconded the officer recommendation for deferral, which was agreed unanimously.

“Upon conclusion of the questions, it was proposed by Cllr Cassidy that the officer recommendation for deferral be approved. This was seconded by Cllr Simpkins and put to a unanimous vote.”

Minutes

The committee decision

The full planning application was deferred to allow further investigations into the outstanding access-road and drainage matters.

“RESOLVED, that the full planning application be deferred to allow for further investigations to be undertaken.”

Minutes