Wigton's housing boom looks set to continue, as one of the county’s biggest developers eyes up a huge plot on the edge of the town.

Carlisle-based firm Story Contracting wants to build up to 50 houses on a piece of land off Lowmoor Road, opposite the Scholars Green estate.

If the bid is successful it could mean a huge influx of housing in that area of town, as Persimmon Homes is looking at building 220 homes in neighbouring fields.

Story Contracting says its latest potential development would be built on five acres of land and would be delivered within three years.

It argues that the site, which sits between Wigton Rugby Club and Nelson Thomlinson School, has been identified by Allerdale council as suitable for housing and will help in their five-year plan to deliver more homes.

In a statement supporting the application, planning agents PFK wrote: “Wigton has a number of employers in the town including the factory at Innovia which is currently undergoing an investment and expansion programme.

“In addition, there is a train station offering regular links to west and north Cumbria giving access to the wider county. The settlement also has access to the A596 providing links to the wider county and UK road network joining the M6 at Carlisle.”

Story also insists the site is in an area with the “lowest probability of flooding”, and a drainage strategy which has no impact elsewhere can be delivered.

There’s also a proposal to make 20 per cent of housing stock that could be built “affordable”, with 75 per cent rented and 25 per cent discounted.

The proposed developments along Lowmoor Road are just two of a number being planned.

Story Contracting also has permission to build 79 plots on Station Hill, off the A596; Lattimer Homes submitted an application to build a housing estate on Syke Road; and controversial plans for 60 new homes on land off West Road, opposite Innovia’s research and development building, are still to be decided after an appeal was lodged against Allerdale Council’s decision to approve.

Earlier this year North Homes Limited revived its plans for a 74-home estate on land off King Street, behind St Cuthbert’s Primary School and church.

Wigton’s mayor Alan Pitcher said that new housing developments bring with them a host of positives.

He said: “The town council welcomes any development in town as we recognise a need for both normal and social type of dwellings.

“This has to go hand-in-hand with developing the schools and possibly another supermarket as well to ensure we have the facilities to cope with any increase in population.

“My worry with this development would be additional issues caused by extra road use outside the school. Flow of traffic and parking would both increase.”

A formal consultation into the new Lowmoor Road plans ends on June 6.

The application comes at the same as the first people move in to a new residential development in South End.