Plans to relocate a village farm and create a residential development on the original site look set to be shown the green light by Allerdale Council.

One application submitted to the council by Hyde Harrington on behalf of Mr Lloyd seeks planning permission to demolish Chapel Farm in Gilcrux and build up to 13 semi-detached homes on the land, with the council’s planning officers recommending it be approved, subject to conditions and an agreement to ensure three of the homes would be affordable.

Another application wants the go-ahead to build a new farm south of the village which would include two cattle sheds, a covered silage pit and slurry lagoon, and a house. That application, which is also submitted by Hyde Harrington for Mr Lloyd, has also been recommended for approval, subject to conditions.

Both applications are set to be considered separately at a virtual meeting of the council’s development panel on Tuesday after they were called in by Councillor Iain Greaney due to concerns over access, flooding and the size of the housing development.

He said: “It wasn’t so much that I was against it, I think it just needed a bit more assessment before making a decision.”

A report from the officer recommending the housing development for approval said the benefits of 13 new homes being created and the farm relocating away from its “restricted access arrangements and residential properties” would not be cancelled out by other impacts, which could be mitigated by conditions.

An officer’s report on the creation of the new farm stressed that it must be considered on its own merits and not in relation to the existing site.

They said: “Farmsteads and pockets of development are a prevailing characteristic of the surrounding landscape.

"With regards to the proposed dwelling, livestock will be housed in the two proposed general purpose buildings and the juxtaposition of the farm worker to these buildings is necessary and any other existing dwelling in the locality, even if available, would not fulfil this need.

"With the appropriate controls at the remaining reserved matters stage, the overall landscape harm is considered to be low."

As part of the demolition of Chapel Farm, only the existing farmhouse would be retained.

Gilcrux parish council felt there was insufficient information to judge the applications but expressed concern that the farmhouse could become an eyesore.

The county archaeologist recommended an archaeological investigation and recording be carried out before any work should begin.

United Utilities requested conditions be attached to both applications to ensure water drainage would be suitable.