A MAJOR planning application for an 'executive' housing scheme has been given the go ahead by Cumberland council - despite objections from local residents who said they had serious concerns about the plans.

An application for 22 houses on land at North Park, Rheda, was approved by the Cumberland council planning committee last Wednesday, June 7 at a meeting in the Carlisle Civic Centre.

Outline planning permission was granted by the now dissolved Copeland Council and a reserved matters application was then lodged with the new authority by the applicant, KCS Agriculture Ltd.

The scheme will see detached three and four-bedroom houses built on two hectares of land, next to Rheda Park and the Beckstones housing development, which is currently under construction by Genesis Homes.

The scheme was passed by councillors despite concerns raised by residents in the nearby area, with some members of the Rheda Park Residents Association raising 'serious concerns'.

Arlecdon and Frizington Parish Council supported concerns raised by the Rheda Park Residents Association.

They had been worried about the surface water drainage system and said flooding already occurs on the highway between Frizington to Bowthorn, next to the Beckstones development.

The parish council claimed the development will increase traffic and pose a threat to wildlife including bats, birds and red squirrels.

In the plans, the lead local flood authority said it was aware of drainage issues in the area and it was therefore, of some “great disappointment” that a detailed scheme of drainage had not been submitted with the application.

A total of 36 objections were received from members of the public, who say, “residents do not want more dwellings in the location, they want green fields, safe playing areas and the rural lifestyle promised”.

Objectors also say the proposed development is “inappropriate” and “out of scale for the location” and suggest that brownfield sites in the area should be development before greenfield land is released.

They say the development will add pressure to “already overloaded” utilities.

However, the applicant says that the development will attract people to the area, helping with economic growth and will meet the need for larger, ‘executive’ style properties in the north of the borough.