Local Development Framework Consultation

2.16 - 2.17 Key Issues to be Addressed

I think not only has affordability a key part but also ensuring that the appropiate type of houses are affordable. Currnelty there are too many young familes living in one and two bedroom appartments and they can not aford the next jump to a 3 bed house which for a young family with two or 3 children is what they need. The principal employment is in the poorly paid care, tourism, retail and public sector. This sector will remain large and is indeed likely to grow as the population ages needing even more care assistants etc. It is clear that the issue of public transport needs to be addressed as well as that of utilities and maintaining supply to existing users and ensuring that it can cope with the increase in load.

Should the region wish to atract back the young proffesionals that have had to move out of the area for work then employment opportunities need to be improved, and even then the issue of second homes and city types retiring to the country keeps the house prices high.

Support partly

2.16 - 2.17 Key Issues to be Addressed

I think not only has affordability a key part but also ensuring that the appropiate type of houses are affordable. Currnelty there are too many young familes living in one and two bedroom appartments and they can not aford the next jump to a 3 bed house which for a young family with two or 3 children is what they need. The principal employment is in the poorly paid care, tourism, retail and public sector. This sector will remain large and is indeed likely to grow as the population ages needing even more care assistants etc. It is clear that the issue of public transport needs to be addressed as well as that of utilities and maintaining supply to existing users and ensuring that it can cope with the increase in load.

Should the region wish to atract back the young proffesionals (and keep the next phase of young people from leaveing) that have had to move out of the area for work then employment opportunities need to be improved, and even then the issue of second homes and city types retiring to the country keeps the house prices high.

Support partly

more on employment issues and also on the type of housing rather than affordable housing - the two go hand in hand and if the region is not careful then there will be an over supply of one bedroom local ocupancy housing.

Submitted to the Secretary of State for independent examination

Adopted by the District Council

2.28 - 2.38 Strategic Objectives

I think these are good objective but feel the need to stress that the affordable houseing needs should be pre fixed with 'appropiate'. By this i mean an increase in the number of 3 and even 4 bed affordable housing.

Support

Alternative Options/ The Preferred Options - PO16 - Remaining Local Service Centres (South & East) 2

The development in every town/village is what is required and I would like to support warmly the move to develop appropiate affordable housing for local people, particularly for young families. The lack of appropiate brown field sites will inevitably lead to sprawl of town but if this is done sypathetically and with local consultationg then this is a nessesary development. Building on/near existing sites would help maintain the integrity of the community village ethos while encouraging integration of young families.

With regard to Levens the area to the rear of greengate appears to have always been penciled for development with roads et al already set up for an expansion of the estate. As with all othe proposals i would be interested to know what proposals are in place to expand and maintain the integraty of electricity, gas, draingage etc. Also what improvements will be made to the traffic infrastruture - taffic calming measures etc.

Any new development should make use of all available sustainability tecnology to ensure that all houses are energy efficient and built to the highest standard.

Finnaly enphasis has been places on having existing community services - bus, train, shops, pub, etc. What will be put in place to maintain and improve local services?

Support

1.1 - 1.13 Introduction and Context

I have attached this comment to this particular paragraph as I believe the that the plan has to a degree been strategic but could have been far more. I appreciate the great deal of work that has gone into the production of this document and it must have been quite exhausting. However quantity does not equal quality.

The document appears to focus primarily on housing and paid lip service to employment. I have not found any area where the Strategic appraisal of the local NHS trust has been reviewed or in deed that of the local primary and secondary schools have been approached to understand there capacity. The same can be said for transport, dentists, etc etc. Traffic management and volume has been glossed over - extra houses mean extra car - especailly in this area where communting to larger towns is essential for many and where public transport is not the best. We can not look at housing in isolation and an all party/sector/service forum should be set up.

The strategy is simply not strategic, but a collection of proposals which are really quite specific and no doubt have attracted emotive responses from NIMB’s (Not in my back yard) but they should be listened to very carefully as it is those locals that know the area and problems already and the consultation could not only aid better planning but also focus on areas for improvement.

In summary i am all for development of the right type and in the right areas as long as the existing infrastrure and services are reviewed. For example i am all for a major development in somewhere like Levens but with this would a local dentist and doctors surgry be provided or will that still be a commutee to Milnthorpe or Kendal. Will the school be able to cope and what impact will this have on the roads into, around and out of Levens.

Support

Support any development that will be for the good of the masses rather than a select few. The lack of appropiate affordable housing is driving more and more local young couple and familes further a field - Carlisle, Penrith, Shap, Lancaster, Carnforth, Morecombe, Preston, Warrington, Manchester, Nottingham, Birmingham, London, Cardiff the list of where my old school friend live due to work and affordability goes on. WE NEED TO ACT NOW OTHERWISE THE POPULATION DEMOGRAPHIC FOR THE WHOLE REGION WILL LIVE UP TO THE UNFORTUNATE STRAP LINE OF GRANGE - "GODS WAITING ROOM"

I would suggest a relook at whether this approach has been successful in presenting a strategy which in years to come people will say it covered all bases and was the right thing to do and not a knee gerk reaction causing more problems than it solved. Will the plan be future proof and enable the communities to ride the enevitable peacks and troughts of the global economic climate that we are in.

Communting is essential to the local region - either into one of the principle areas such as Kendal but more and more people are commuting further a field to Penrith, Lancaster, Preston and Manchester. This is for employment at more than the national minimal wage and to enable them to afford a house. I think links to train stations and improved free parking are essential and having quick and easy access to the M6 are essential. With this in mind Oxenholme is an area that no doubt will be effected by traffic regardless of where any development takes place. Having said this flexible working and home working will enable people to work further afield for mid week and work from home fir-mon which suggests that larger housing such as 4 beds needs to be concidered.

Suggest that emplyment opportunities are actively encouraged to the principle towns and that land is set a side in other towns for this. A realisation that not all towns will be the answer to every issue and that commuting is essential. Levens for example has been identified for substantial housing but no employment and the current employment opportunities are very low and it is understood that the vast majority of working age population commute to Kendal, Milnthorpe, Ulverston et al.