A SEATON councillor has said that his fears for a village 'have now become a reality' following a planning application that was submitted to Allerdale this week for more than 150 new homes in the village.

Councillor Daniel Horsley, who represents Seaton at both parish and borough council level, said that plans have been submitted this week by housing developer Story Homes to build a residential development for up to 180 new dwellings and associated landscaping and infrastructure on land at Year Rise north east of Calva Farm in Seaton.

He said: "The parish council will be responding on this in the new year and we will be objecting.

"We knew it was coming - Story Homes did come to speak to us a while ago at the parish and at the rugby club, but this has obviously not gone down very well with Seaton residents. The simple question is, is this the best thing for Seaton? And it isn't.

"This village is saturated, it just can't cope.

"The residents are saying exactly the same - how does this benefit Seaton? It doesn't benefit Seaton one bit, it's going to cause more issues for the village."

Cllr Horsley has said previously that many village residents have contacted him in recent days to also voice their concerns at the plans, with fears of the schools becoming oversubscribed and the village becoming 'saturated'.

He said: "They can just keep building more and more of these big estates, just adding more and more thinking that it's okay because it just isn't."

Since the application was submitted to Allerdale Borough Council on Friday, December 16, people have already taken to the comments section to object to the proposals.

One commentator wrote: "I am writing to you to object most strongly to the application to build 180 new homes in Seaton. Our poor village could not cope with this."

'The proposed scheme would deliver economic benefits'

A spokesperson at Story Homes said: “Our proposed scheme has been carefully designed to provide an appropriate extension to the village, on land allocated for residential development within the Council’s adopted Local Plan.

"The proposed scheme has been informed by robust surveys and assessments to ensure existing infrastructure can accommodate the proposed development, along with a carefully designed highway strategy including traffic calming measures and enhanced pedestrian connectivity proposals.

“The proposed scheme will bring wider public benefits, with an attractive new street scene, biodiversity net gain, landscaping, and public open spaces including an equipped area of play.

"The proposed scheme would also deliver economic benefits with direct and indirect job creation through the construction of housing, and the supply chain.

"Once occupied, new residents will bring additional consumer expenditure into the area, thereby contributing positively to the local economy.

"We shall continue to work constructively with key stakeholders to ensure the proposals respond positively to issues identified.”