Last updated 16:00, Wednesday, 28 May 2008

A MAJOR extension to Johnson House, the Abbeyfield Home providing sheltered accommodation for the elderly, at Hillcrest, Whitehaven, is being resisted by neighbouring residents.

They were intending to protest against the proposal at a meeting of Copeland Council’s planning panel being held yesterday afternoon.

The Abbeyfield Society wants to build seven more units, a kitchen, laundry and boiler room, enlarge dining and lounge areas and provide a new six-vehicle car park.

Residents, 29 of them in total, have objected with feelings running high among those who will be affected by the development. Following a site visit by councillors, planning officers were recommending approval, with several conditions relating to trees and disposal of foul and surface water.

The proposed extension on the south side of Johnson House will almost double its size and be both single and two-storey. It adjoins Jericho Plantation wooded area which is protected by a tree preservation order, some of which will be affected.

The council’s landscape officer has said that the loss of 10 early mature trees is acceptable and a hedgerow would be planted to mitigate.

Residents have complained about visual intrusion, loss of light, privacy and views, the effect on wildlife habitat (including red squirrels), the scale of the extension, the loss of green space, the effect on house values, loss of playground for local children and the effect on a right of way.

They have major concerns too about both the surface water drainage and the sewerage systems which have historically been know to be inadequate on the Hillcrest estate. They feel the new development will only worsen the situation causing increased flooding to neighbouring houses.

When Johnson House was built it caused some local flooding that led to civil court action with the developer, to address the situation.

The residents feel that both the extension and the new car park will also increase the surface water run-off, affecting the water table and increasing the risk of flooding.

Copeland planning officials say the distance between houses and the proposed extension exceeds the minimum required distance of 21 metres and any loss of privacy would be minimal.

The council’s own drainage engineer has however expressed concern about sewerage and water drainage at Hillcrest and will require details of the proposed method of disposal for approval before any work starts on site.

Abbeyfield’s agent has appointed a consultant to come up with a satisfactory scheme.

The council says the effect on the woodland area will be minimal.