PLANS to build homes on the site of an old builders yard have been rejected a second time on the grounds that they would be “isolated” from shops and essential services.

Copeland Borough Council’s planning panel rejected an application yesterday which requested outline planning permission to build two residential dwellings at Weston near the hamlet of Oaklands.

The site near Beckermet is a former builder’s yard that is no longer of use to Atkinson’s Builders.

Atkinson's Builders has been forced to downsize due to the owner’s ill health, he believes that a commercial use for the site would not be viewed as acceptable to the public and parish council.

But a recommendation was made to councillors to refuse the application based on the isolated nature of the site.

Case officer Christie Burns said: “Members have already refused an outline application at this site earlier this year. There are no changes in the applicant services that would warrant a deviation from this stance.

“The application site is located within open countryside with limited access to key services and facilities, there are no facilities located within the immediate facility of the application site or within the hamlet of Oaklands. There are some facilities within Beckermet and Thornhill and Egremont, however these are a significant distance from the application site.

Ms Burns said: “The site is position off the A595 and does not benefit from a continuous footpath which would link the development to these nearby settlements. The nearest footpath is located approximately 40 metres away from the site’s access on the opposite side of the A595.

“Therefore there is not a safe, direct walking route to local facilities.”

Three councillors voted in favour of the officer's recommendations, none voted against and four abstained from voting either way.

Brian Atkinson, applicant and owner of the business based at Weston, Oaklands spoke at the meeting to argue his case.

He said: “I’m the third generation of a family business with nobody else to take the business on.

“Unfortunately I have experienced some health conditions. On the advice of my cardiologist I have reduced my workload substantially. With the medical advice I decided to downsize and it was sadly necessary to make six members of staff redundant in September 2021.

“I have two remaining employees at this moment in time, and this does not warrant me to have a large builder’s yard. I now need to find an acceptable use for the brownfield site.”

“My previous application was refused on the following grounds, it would be isolated lack of local facilities and use of car would be required to get from the site to local pubs, shops, post office churches etc.

“On the same day an application at Nethertown was passed which is isolated with a lack of local facilities. Nethertown is 2.7 miles from Egremont and 3.8 miles from St Bees which is a single lane road. There is no service links such as shops, public houses, schools so on this basis I don’t understand why my location is classed as an isolated area.”