A new site has been revealed for a much-needed new primary school in the north of Carlisle as controversial plans for almost 300 new homes look set to get the go-ahead.

Developer Persimmon Homes has revised its plans to build 276 properties between Windsor Way, off Kingstown Road, and the hamlet of Tarraby.

It has also agreed to contribute almost £1m to the new school.

Changes to the housing development include proposals for a new set of traffic lights on Kingstown Road at the junction with Windsor Way, close to the Gosling Bridge pub.

There is also a new possible access to a potential new school site at the south-eastern corner of the proposed development, which leads onto fields.

Persimmon Homes wants to build on 9.8 hectares of open pasture.

The development would include 112 four-bedroom houses, 156 three-bedroom houses, and six three-bedroom bungalows.

As part of its plans, Persimmon Homes has agreed to pay close to £1m towards the creation of a 210-pupil school that Cumbria County Council states would be needed to provide sufficient numbers of primary school places.

It is estimated it could cost more than £3.9m to build.

Story Homes – which is set to build 190 homes at nearby Greymoorhill – will also make a contribution to the cost of the new school of between £496,432 and £633,346.

Nearby Stanwix and Kingmoor Schools are full and have been extended to cater for their already increased numbers, caused in part by the closure of Belah School in 2008.

They will not be able to cope with a new influx of families that snap up homes being built or proposed in the area. The old Belah School site had already been suggested as a possible site for a new school.

Members of Carlisle City Council’s development control panel are expected to consider the application from Persimmon Homes at a meeting next Friday (NOV 27) .

Papers just published reveal that planning officers are recommending councillors approve the plans subject to a series of measures including conditions set out in a Section 106 agreement – a legal agreement between local authorities and developers.

A report states that Persimmon Homes has agreed, in line with the city council’s housing officer and county council’s education service, to:

  • Make 30 per cent of the homes – 83 properties – ‘affordable’ by having 41 for rent and 42 sold via share ownership or discounted deals;
  • Install traffic controls at Windsor Way/Scotland Road before its 20th home is plastered;
  • Make an education contribution of £14,500 per primary school pupil, totaling £997,586, towards the building of a new school.

Other conditions in the recommended Section 106 agreement include:

  • The developer paying £25,000 towards the creation of a cycle way between its site and Greymoorhill;
  • Cash sums to contribute towards the cost of a travel plan and traffic regulation orders and the payment of a pending sum regarding off-site sports provision.

Independent county councillor Alan Toole represents the area.

He said: “I’m not happy about another set of traffic lights on that main road at the Gosling Bridge. I’ve already had residents from Newfield contacting me about the school run too.

“This will also affect the air quality.”

Residents objected strongly to the original proposals, and again to the recent changes.

Grounds include the lack of school places, stopping up of rights of way at California Way, and claims that the traffic assessments are flawed because they do not take into account vehicles travelling to and from the Gosling Bridge pub and neighbouring Premier Inn as well as the cumulative impact of other new housing developments nearby.

Matthew Kirkby, chairman of the Newfield Residents’ Association, said he fears the risk of flooding for the new development – because of surface water run off from a beck.

However, he said his greatest concern was the proposals to put a wall across the lonning. “It’s for everyone,” he claimed.

Liam Briggs, who lives on Newfield Drive, said: “The traffic will be horrendous.”