Developers and NHS professionals will be deterred from coming to Copeland as housing applications are “continually disapproved”, a leading councillor has said.
Copeland Council could be stung with more than £100,000 in costs if the developer behind a major housing scheme is to win an appeal against a decision to refuse its application.
Members of Copeland Council’s planning panel went against their own officers’ advice for a second time when they refused plans for 370 houses at Harras Moor last month.
Homes England, the developer behind the scheme, could now appeal to the Government to challenge the decision.
Steve Morgan, portfolio holder for commercial services on Copeland Council, said: “The continual disapproval of housing is inadvertently impacting the NHS. We are finding it very difficult in the NHS in Cumbria to recruit doctors and nurses. They are finding it very difficult to find housing that they would expect to acquire elsewhere in the country.
“We have one of the lowest cost of living and one of the highest average incomes yet we are finding it very difficult to get companies and individuals to move into the area.
“Our population in the last census went down 5,000 people yet the number of vacant houses we have is negligible. What we are short on is new, modern housing. What we have to do is quit being ‘nimbys’ and start to welcome people and companies and provide opportunities for our young people to remain in this area.
“We need more housing for professionals . We are putting up a sign saying, ‘you’re not welcome here’ and that’s not useful. It costs us money and costs us the health of our population.
“We run the risk of paying expenses for developers who appeal and win. More significantly, it’s having an impact on the quality of life on people in West Cumbria.”
Graham Minshaw has done so 27 times, Graham Calvin 16 times, Joan Hully 15 times and Jackie Bowman 11 times. Since joining the panel in 2021, Linda Jones-Bulman has voted against advice on eight occasions.
Joan Hully, chair of the planning panel, said the planning panel had “every respect” for its officers but declined to comment further.
READ MORE: Plans for 370 houses at Harras Moor in Whitehaven refused for a second time
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