Developer wins appeal to remove affordable homes from 40-home scheme
Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 17 Oct, 07:02 · Archive
A developer has won a planning appeal allowing 40 homes in South Cumbria to proceed without any affordable housing.
A planning appeal has allowed a 40-home residential development in South Cumbria to proceed without any affordable housing. Developer L&W Wilson (Higham) Ltd appealed against Westmorland and Furness Council's failure to determine an application to vary a condition on the site at Barn Hey Farm, off Flookburgh Road in Allithwaite. Outline permission for up to 40 homes had been granted in February 2024.
The appeal process led to a reconsideration of the development's affordable housing requirements. The developer submitted a Financial Viability Assessment which was independently reviewed. Westmorland and Furness Council subsequently accepted that the development would not be viable if it had to provide the affordable housing required under the existing Section 106 agreement.
Planning inspector Elaine Moulton's decision, dated 7 September 2026, acknowledged concerns raised about the loss of affordable housing. However, she found no substantive evidence that challenged the methodology or conclusions of the viability assessment. The inspector stated: 'The viability evidence indicates that requiring affordable housing would prevent the development coming forward.' She concluded that even without affordable housing, the development would make a 'meaningful contribution to housing delivery' and support the Government's objective of significantly boosting housing supply.
How it is being reported
- Affordable homes removed from 40-home scheme after developer wins appealPlans for up to 40 homes in a South Cumbrian village can proceed without any affordable housing after a developer won a planning appeal.NW Evening Mail · 17 Oct, 06:00
- Affordable homes removed from 40-home scheme after developer wins appealPlans for up to 40 homes in a South Cumbrian village can proceed without any affordable housing after a developer won a planning appeal.Westmorland Gazette · 17 Oct, 06:00
In this story: L&W Wilson (Higham) Ltd · Westmorland and Furness Council · Allithwaite · Elaine Moulton
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