A proposal to knock down 25 garages and replace them with homes in St Bees are set to be given the green light.

Copeland council's planning panel is due to discuss the proposal at a meeting next Wednesday.

Green Swallow North Limited has applied to the authority to knock down the garages at Outrigg Yard, which are rented out to local residents.

The application is at outline stage, however provisional layout plans show the site would accommodate four semi-detached homes.

The project has been recommended for approval by the council's planning officers, however residents have raised concerns about the proposal.

St Bees Parish Council has objected to the plans as it is concerned about the loss of parking amenities, however it has recognised that the owner has no legal obligation to continue to provide garages.

The highways authority said: "The loss of garages would adversely impact on the local highway network increasing demand for on-street parking, it is unclear what could be done to prevent this from happening, a point the local planning authority will need to consider when determining this application."

Concerns raised by residents also include loss of privacy, overlooking and loss of sea views.

However a proposal to create a footpath through the Fairladies estate was welcomed.

A report by Copeland council's planning department said: "The developer seeks to provide a footpath link through the site from the Fairladies estate to the south of the site, to Outriggs Road and the adjacent school located to the north of the site.

"This will reduce the number of daily car trips to the school by residents of the Fairladies estate and will create an access to the existing Fairladies car park to the current users of the garages at the application site."

The report added that while the loss of parking would increase pressure on roads, the addition of a footpath was a benefit to the village.