Local Development Framework Consultation

We wish to make the following comments on the land allocations proposed in the South Lakeland Local Plan referred to in your email dated 26 July.

Para 5.10, page 148, specifies that 7 dwellings are allocated for housing in an area south of Stockbridge Lane. Para 5.14 states that "this 0.72 hectare is in a sensitive location....between Stonecross Mansion and Stockbridge House....the key issues are the impact on the settings of adjoining listed buildings and the [Ulverston] Conservation Area."

Two key points need to be made:

a. The site proposed for development is currently dedicated to agricultural use and, in our view, should remain that way to preserve consistency with the fields on the opposite side of Stockbridge Lane which provide grazing for cattle and sheep and to avoid town centre "creep".

b. Traffic along Stockbridge Lane is already not inconsiderable and the building of 7 more houses would add to it. The road is narrow, especially so at this point, and already poses a danger to pedestrians since some passing vehicles exceed the speed limit of 30 mph (incidentally, this is way too high for such an awkward spot). There is also no pavement along Stockbridge Lane and more traffic would expose pedestrians to greater risk.

In the light of these factors we firmly believe that the proposed development should not proceed.

The Plan also proposes that there should be up to 50 houses built in the grounds of Stonecross Mansion. We consider that this figure is grossly excessive and that the development would undermine - indeed, it would make a mockery of - the declared intention of the Plan to preserve the heritage value of the Mansion. It would also cause significant traffic problems in the relatively narrow thoroughfare of Daltongate.

May we please ask you to pass these comments on the Local Plan to the Planning Inspector, Mr Berkeley.

Thank you.

Yours sincerely

John and Joyce Hughes