By Sarah Newstead

Last updated at 12:41, Friday, 29 January 2010

Major plans to build 270 houses on the site of a former factory in Silloth have been revealed.

Developers claim a housing scheme for the former Fisons factory will spark regeneration in the seaside town.

The outline plans submitted to Allerdale Council show future proposals will include a mixture of terraced, semi-detached, detached and town houses on the 22-acre plot.

An option to create a care village for elderly people with café and shop facilities could also feature.

Consultants Fairhurst, acting for developers Harvest Park Developments, say the proposal will “improve the overall image of Silloth and act as a catalyst for the regeneration of the town”.

The development would be built in three phases with work on the first allocation of 85 housing units to begin before 2012.

The site, known as Harvest Industrial Estate, is home to a former fertiliser factory – its buildings are now used for storage.

More than 20 years ago, an outline plan was submitted to Allerdale Council to use the land to develop houses.

However, no planning application followed.

It has been on a council list of derelict sites since 2006.

Silloth’s mayor, Graham Wilkinson, welcomed any proposal to regenerate the site.

He added: “We get a lot of people coming back to live in Silloth,” he added. “And a lot of outsiders want to live here as well. But this is a lot of houses.”

First published at 11:26, Friday, 29 January 2010
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk