Some fourteen years ago dairy farming was starting to become unviable from a profits perspective.One day I met a young man who advised me to start buying buy-to-let properties to diversify my business,this man was Fred Storey.After considering Freds advice,I then started out as a social housing landlord.I can honestly say that Fred Storey is one of the most decent,astute business men that I have ever met.I now own several houses that were either built or renovated by Fred.I can honestly say that Freds high building standards are staggering and his staff are some of the most polite lads that you could ever wish to converse with.This proposed developement will be amazing for the long-term prosperity of Dalston.I will be buying a few from Fred myself.Well done Fred!

Sorry, Brian (8th January) - you've got it wrong about density. The overall site in question is 5.4 hectares, not 6.5 as you claim. (Look at the planning application.) Of that 5.4, about 1.6 cannot be built on because it lies within the blast zone of the nearby fuel depot (even though the developer kindly puts the edge of the blast zone literally within inches of the outlying properties). That leaves about 3.8 hectares for 128 dwellings. Given also that within this cramped area the great majority of units are 5, 4 and 3 bedroom ones, the density of occupation of the site is intensified. HIGH density for a village as opposed to an urban setting! (Caps for your benefit, not Expat Marra's.)

If 130 houses are to be built on a plot the size of the one at Dalston you would be lucky if you can fit a paddling pool in one of the gardens.

The only justification for such a development is more business for local traders, but some of these successful traders and firms oppose it (and signed the petition) because they chose to work in a village they don't want spoilt. BTW, I'm 21 and have lived here most of my life. Dalston isn't a 'retirement village'.

As a Dalston resident, I think I am right in saying that most people (myself included)who oppose the development in Dalston are not opposed to building any new houses here but are opposed to building the numbers stated as it will significantly increase the size of the 'village' which will damage the very aspects of Dalston which make it a nice place to live.

Also, there are thousands more houses planned for the Carlisle area at Peterlane, Wigton road, Hammonds Pond and Crindledyke to name a few. Are there really that many people wanting to buy these houses? Most, if not all, of these developments are planned for greenfield sites. Surely if these houses have to be built, they should be built on brownfield sites which results in redevelopment of deserted parts of the city without ruining more of our countryside, solving two contentious issues in one go.

I wonder how many people who signed the petition would actually be tempted to buy one of the houses once they were all finished and built. I bet a few of them would.

Does anyone know if any of the gardens would be big enough to fit a swimming pool in?

As a resident of Crindledyke, I am sorry to have to tell the people of Dalston that you are wasting your time objecting to this developement. The Council have shown that they put no value on green fields or existing residents' quality of life. We are now suffering the start of many years of disruption due to the start of building at Story's 'Crindledyke Farm' site ( a rather ironic name seeing as it has resulted in the demolition of the farm buildings and ripping up the fields).

if the builders get there way dalston will be a suberb of carlisle.money talks not green fields. basically give them an inch and thell take a mile,so stick togeather dalston i say youve got a beautifull village,dont let the builders ruine it,

From experience one of the biggest drawbacks to living in Dalston, and bringing up a family here is the schooling. All of the existing classes at St Michael's Primary School, and many years of Caldew secondary school, are full - perhaps with none catchment children from Carlisle, but they cannot be turned away once at school. So anyone coming to live in Dalston with children over the 'rising 4' or 11 year old transition application time in the preceding winter/spring (whether on the new Story development or other housing) will not get their children in the local schools, and they will have to be bused elsewhere (eg Raughton Head, Thursby or Wigton). This has been happening in Dalston for a whole generation already: it has great significance to children's friendships, with parents trying to transport their children to 'out-of-school activities' and more distant friend's houses. Not ideal when the 'village school' is a few minutes walk away. Adding 65 4- or 5- bedroom (plus over 32 3 bedroom houses) must surely add 80+ school age children to the mix, perhaps necessitating busing children to even more rural schools. Meanwhile 1600 houses are to be erected 2 mins. drive up the road at Peter Lane, and parents there may choose to send their children to Dalston schools also. I think everyone needs a time to think about planning across the city of Carlisle, making sure the infrastructure is right, and housing really reflects need, before the City Planners make such irreversible decisions to get the 2500 'spare capacity' of houses built in inappropriate places. Schooling is just a simple example of poor planning, that is not sustainable - the County Council's solution is to get developers to help contribute to children's transportation.

Wow, can't believe how narrow minded people of Dalston can be (Yes I live in the village)

The god father of dalston has disagreed to this so all the sheep have to follow....

Can no one see that this could be good for the village if the road access is sorted out!? Surely the local businesses will benefit as well.

Schooling issues?? Building another 100 house will make no difference at all. All it means is that more children who live in Dalston will go to the school in Dalston. Currently there is a large proportion of children who attend St Michaels from the Carlisle area so the people who miss out will be from Carlisle not Dalston. Can they not go to one of their local schools in Carlisle?

These houses are a great idea. Lets hope that they're affordable for the younger families so that we can get rid of the 'Gods Waiting Room' stigma that the village has.