Plans for Workington stable block to be decided on next week
Concerns over a number of issues including flooding have been raised over the proposals
Last updated 20th May 2025
PLANS for a proposed new stables block in the Workington area, where there are concerns over flooding, will be decided next week.
Members of Cumberland Council’s planning committee are due to meet at Allerdale House, Workington, on Wednesday (May 28) to consider the application for full planning permission.
It is for a site at Meadow Edge in Barepot and the development would include a hay barn, two stables, a tack/storage room and the creation of a parking area.
The application is being considered by the committee because a member of the council has made representations in writing on the designated form and the request for referral raised valid planning reasons.
Members are recommended to grant planning permission subject to the conditions outlined in the report.
The report states: “The application site comprises approximately 690 square metres of an existing agricultural field at the corner of Meadow Edge and Fernbank Lane in Barepot, Workington.
“Barepot is located less than a mile to the north-east of Workington and comprises a cluster of residential properties, farm steadings and stables.
“Vehicular access to the site is via the A596 exiting onto Calva Brow and then Meadow Edge. The application site is bound by Meadow Edge to the north-east, Fernbank Lane to the south, both unclassified single-track lanes, and open field to the west and north-west.
“On the opposite side of Meadow Edge, adjacent to the application site, there is an existing stable block and on the opposite side of Fernbank Lane there is an Environment Agency Gauging Station.
“There is also a United Utilities Pumping Station located adjacent to the south-west boundary. The application site comprises grassland with no vegetation except for a hedgerow along the southern boundary.”
According to the report the nearest residential properties are at Glenfield Place, more than 200 metres to the north-west, and Seaton Mill is 190 metres to the north-east.
The report states: “The proposed stable block will be rectangular in shape with a floorspace of 49 square metres and a height of 3.5 metres.
“The proposed materials include black box profile roofing sheets, timber cladding walls, timber doors and reinforced concrete flooring. The roof will also have solar panels.”
The application has received nine representations from separate properties including seven letters of objection, one letter of support and one letter neither objecting to nor supporting the proposed development.
Concerns raised included issues relating to flood risk, road safety and ecological matters.
In the report ward councillor Jimmy Grisdale (Seaton, Labour) said: “After concerns from the residents of Barepot, I would ask to call this in to go to planning committee on the grounds that it is being built on a floodplain.
“I have photos of the area after the 2009 floods of the field under five feet of water and photos of the years after the floods where the field is full of water.”