Approval recommended for road development in Windermere

Proposals to make a series of changes to roads in Windermere ahead of a major development is recommended for approval.

Members of the development control committee for the Lake District National Park Authority will discuss plans lodged by Urban Splash Developments Limited for the construction of a raft of road improvements on the A591 and Thwaites Lane.

Plans also involve the development of cycle and pedestrian links between Orrest Head Farm and Windermere Railway Station.

The proposed works are required to accommodate the delivery of the Orrest Head Farm mixed-use allocation site in the local plan which is anticipated to deliver 250 homes.

The Orrest Head Farm site forms part of the Windermere Gateway Project which covers a wider area including Windermere Railway Station and the surrounding land.

According to planning documents the proposed road improvements represent a ‘pivotal’ component of the project.

The planning statement describes the project as the ambition to create a transformational new gateway for Windermere that delivers affordable and local needs housing, jobs and improved sustainable travel opportunities.

Amongs proposals in the planning application to be discussed include work to enable the existing A591 road speed limit to be reduced to 30mph on approach to Windermere Gateway and then reduced to 20mph.

On Thwaites Lane a new four arm junction with an east-west pedestrian / cycleway route is proposed.

Plans also involve the creation of new junctions from the A591 and Thwaites Lane into the Orrest Head Farm site.

Planning documents state: “The proposed development is specifically required to deliver the highways infrastructure to unlock the Orrest Head Farm allocation and facilitate the delivery of the wider mixed-use development.

“The proposed development is being brought forward in advance of the mixed-use allocation to enable access to capital grant funding via the Housing Infrastructure Fund (“HIF”).

“The funding will, therefore, assist in securing the delivery of the Orrest Head Farm development and unlock the social, economic and environmental benefits associated with the allocation.”

According to the report prepared for the committee, the proposals have received 36 objections which raised concerns over the impact the proposals could have on road safety.

However the report adds: “Given the information provided to support the application and the conclusions of the Local Highway Authority, I consider that the development would not have an unacceptable impact on highway safety or result in severe cumulative impacts on the road network, subject to recommended conditions.”

Members of the development control committee are recommended to approve the plans when they meet at Murley Moss, Kendal, on November 6.