Council rejects housing plan citing red squirrel impact concerns

Summarised from News & Star's report · Updated 21 Oct, 21:02 · Archive

Cumberland Council's planning committee refused permission for a housing development on land at the former Cumbria Fire and Rescue Headquarters on Station Road in Cockermouth on Wednesday 21 October. Officers had recommended approval, but the committee voted against it, citing insufficient ecological information about the impact on red squirrels at the site.

The application was first submitted by west Cumbrian businessman Bill Dobie in May 2023 and was originally approved in September that year. It was brought back before the committee in March after ecological reports proved out of date. In February this year, the council resolved to request an independent red squirrel survey report, which has now been received and informed the committee's decision.

Read the report

• Council rejects controversial housing plans over red squirrel concernsThere was a loud round of applause from the public galley when Cumberland Council's planning committee refused to approve controversial application.News & Star · 21 Oct, 18:00

In this story: Cumberland Council · Cockermouth · Bill Dobie · Cumbria Fire and Rescue Headquarters

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