Meeting the need for affordable homes

For our planning consultants to promote and secure planning permission for this greenfield residential development, we sought to engage the community and address significant concerns over biodiversity and flood risk.

The Strawberry How site lies immediately to the east of the market town of Cockermouth in Cumbria. Our client, Story Homes, was proposing a new development of up to 320 homes of which 40% are affordable to meet a substantial need in the town.

To support the client’s vision for a high-quality, landscape led scheme, our development team approach involved officers from Allerdale Borough and Cumbria County councils. We also made significant efforts to engage and inform local residents, community stakeholders and the local Action Group by ensuring an open flow of information about the proposals.

In recognition of the ecologically sensitive nature of the site, promotion of the application through the planning system included assessment of transportation and landscape impact and the potential for flood risk from the beck running through the development.

In light of this, we worked closely with the Environment Agency, Natural England and United Utilities to assess the specific risk, particularly in relation to the development of a ‘Blue Corridor’, and were supported by them in recommendations to the council.