A housing developer has submitted fresh plans to build homes on the site of a former factory in Carlisle, which it says will breathe life into a "barren wasteland".

Citadel Estates Limited has made a final attempt to secure planning permission to build on land formerly occupied by the Kangol and KSS factory, off Constable Street, in Denton Holme.

The firm says one of its aims is to avoid the site - in one of the city's larger residential areas - remaining empty for the "forseeable future".

Its blueprint had originally asked for planning permission for 50 new homes - but this number has now been cut back to 44.

A revised application to Carlisle City Council also includes formation of the riverside path, landscaping and "sustainable urban drainage system".

The firm lodged an appeal with the planning inspectorate last year after Carlisle City Council refused permission for the development of 50 homes because of the risk of flooding.

But this was dismissed by the Secretary of State.

The main issues raised were the flood risk, if the design was accessible and inclusive - and the effect the proposed development would have on the habitats of the river Eden.

The inspector recognised in his report that the design and layout of the site was dense and compact.

This would, he said, in some instances harmfully limit the amount of light to properties within the development as well as creating "unacceptably oppressive" outlooks from the back of some of the existing properties in Freer Court, which are also owned by the developer.

But Nick Elgey, commercial director for Citadel Estates, said they had totally redesigned the scheme to address the inspector's comments - and the Environment Agency had recently confirmed the site was not liable to flooding.

In a statement to The Cumberland News, Mr Elgey said: "Hopefully the council will now agree with the majority of the local residents by supporting this application."

He added: "We are keen to start the development and avoid the site remaining as barren wasteland for the foreesable future."

The site did not flood during Storm Desmond.

Seatbelt factory Kangol employed 900 people at its peak and flew the flag for Carlisle all over the world.

It was for many years one of the backbones of the city’s economy – a major player in the automotive history.

The shutdown came about 10 years ago in the face of cheaper production costs in Romania, markinh the end of an industrial era for Carlisle.