Plans for the construction of a new office on the outskirts of Penrith will be decided on tomorrow.

Eden District Council's planning committee will tomorrow morning consider proposals for a new office building on land at the edge of Eden Business Park, off Greenbank Road, which the applicant states will create 30 jobs.

The plans have however generated opposition from 60 signatories to a petition stating that the development will have a "significant impact" on nearby green spaces.

Eden's planning officers are recommending that the plans, submitted by Atkinson Building Contractors, are approved by the planning panel.

The proposed building, which would be more than 38 metres long, is set to provide a total of 930 square metres of floorspace over two floors.

Planning officers outline in documents prepared for the meeting that "the applicant has suggested that the development would create 30 full time jobs".

The proposed site plan includes parking space for 62 cars, and two disabled parking bays.

The application site is adjacent to the Gilwilly Industrial Estate, and in its current form is "underused greenfield land".

The site is "allocated for employment purposes" within Eden District Council's Local Plan, as an extension for the Gilwilly Industrial Estate.

Penrith Town Council offered no objection to the plans, as the land is "already allocated in the local plan for employment".

The town council welcomed that renewable technologies, including solar panels, have been incorporated into the design, but suggested that further measures such as electric vehicle charging points should be added to the plans.

Four letters of objection have been submitted to the council in respect of the plans, raising concerns on a number of issues, including loss of privacy and safety concerns relating to the increased traffic in the area as a result of the development.

The petition opposing the plans has been signed by 60 people who make use of the Thacka Nature Reserve and Thacka Lane nearby. The petition states that this development would have a "significant impact" on the area.

"The area is unique in Penrith being so close to town but having such an open countryside look and feel," the petition states.

"There are other sites available within the nearby industrial estate and there is no need to spoil this greenfield site.

"The minimal benefit of the creation of employment is far outweighed by the detriment to the environment."