The Lake District National Park Authority say that Greenfield sites in Keswick need houses built on them in order to meet the increasing demand for homes in the area. However, the proposals have attracted opposition from residents who have sent the council two petitions with thousands of signatures.
The local council say there is a need for one-hundred new affordable homes in Keswick, and that the suggested sites will be suitable for 157. Research was carried out and a list of suitable locations was made. The KBAG (Keswick Boundaries Action Group) has been set up to fight the proposals that they feel will spoil their beautiful town. Planning consultants have suggested other areas that should be considered, which the national park authority have for some reason ruled out.
Councillor Ian Hall said: “While campaigners have put forward suggestions for fulfilling the current housing need on Brownfield sites, those will very quickly run out and Greenfield areas will still have to be built on. We need more affordable housing if we are going to retain a local population. Something else that would help is to limit the number of second homes and holiday lets as this is not helping the problem.”
The council have also suggested that if everyone in the area agreed to pay £1 per month on their council tax, the town would be able to buy back housing at a rate of fifteen each year, which although a low number, it will help to reduce the problem. Consultation on the merits of each individual site will begin later this week and local landlords have already intimated that they would be more than willing to increase their landlord insurance cover to take in new properties that they would let to local people on whatever site is eventually chosen.