Moor Row: A Village In Perpetual Motion

Moor Row, like so many villages across the country, is not a static place. It is a living, breathing community that has continually adapted, evolved, and rebuilt itself over the decades.

For those of us who call it home, or who have roots here, witnessing this gradual transformation is a fascinating experience, particularly when we start pinning down the dates.

Foundations for the Future

The fabric of our village today is woven from layers of change. We recall some of the older housing that defined earlier generations of Moor Row, such as the houses at Scalegill Place. 

These properties, which served their purpose for many years, were eventually deemed unsuitable and were responsibly demolished by the Council, a process that likely took place during the Mid-20th Century (around the 1950s–1970s) as part of wider urban renewal efforts. 

In their place, modern, fit-for-purpose houses were constructed, ensuring the community remained vibrant and housed appropriately. This process of renewal is constant.

Scalegill Place Moor Row Illustration

The Hidden Cost

​While new housing is necessary, the steady growth and development across the village - and the wider region - have placed an immense burden on Moor Row's small, residential road network.

​The most noticeable impact is felt on roads like Penzance Street. This street has long suffered as an unofficial rat-run for traffic, particularly for commuters travelling to and from the Sellafield site. Our quiet village streets were never designed to handle this volume of daily through-traffic.

Dalzell Street Moor Row Illustration

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When the A595 Stops, Moor Row Moves

​This problem is massively compounded when accidents or closures occur on the main A595 trunk road. When the A595 is shut down, the traffic diversion is instant and overwhelming:

When there is an accident on the A595, the whole village becomes an A-Road, which it most definitely isn't designed for.

This observation is strongly supported by official findings. Local area reports confirm that traffic using routes through the village as Sellafield commuter rat-runs is a significant, acknowledged issue.

Furthermore, due to the lack of viable alternatives, the closure of the A595 forces high volumes of traffic, including heavy vehicles, directly onto the minor road network, proving that the resilience of our local infrastructure is severely lacking.

​This influx of heavy vehicles and hundreds of cars transforms the village into a congested, fast-moving thoroughfare, creating noise, increasing pollution, and, most critically, posing a significant safety risk to pedestrians, children, and residents.

New Corners of the Map

A significant part of Moor Row's evolution has been the expansion of its residential areas. Over the years, new estates have seamlessly (and sometimes not-so-seamlessly!) been added to the local geography, providing homes for new and existing families.

The bulk of this expansion, which saw the emergence of areas like West Spur, Pearson Close, Hollins Park, Larch Court, and Rusper Drive, largely occurred in the Late 20th Century (estimated 1970s to 1990s).

More recently, the pace hasn't slowed:

• The Pastures (off Dalzell Street): This is one of the village's newest additions. Outline planning permission was approved in July 2024, and construction is now ongoing in 2025, bringing up to 65 new homes to the area.
• Wildridge Drive (off Scalegill Road): This smaller Washington Homes development is also very recent, currently listed as 'Coming Soon' with 19 homes being built. 

Scalegill Road Moor Row Illustration

The Next Chapter

Change is clearly not over for Moor Row. Looking forward into the next decade, there is already talk of a new development that is likely to draw significant attention from residents. 

This proposed site is situated off Scalegill Road, directly opposite the playpark. It’s a location that many locals know well - a boggy field that has historically been prone to flooding.

While major planning applications have yet to be made public, we can anticipate this being a key construction project in the village in the coming years (likely 2026+).

As plans for this development progress, it will undoubtedly raise questions about drainage, infrastructure, and how we manage building on challenging ground.

With more residents and more cars, the pressure on every road, from Dalzell Street to Penzance Street, will only intensify. Ensuring that new developments include serious, enforceable contributions to local road infrastructure and traffic calming measures must be a priority for the community and the Council.

Access Only and Enforcement

​Looking ahead, with the likely new development off Scalegill Road in the next decade, the pressure on Penzance Street and other internal village roads will only intensify.

The community’s most pressing demand for sustainable growth is a decisive change in traffic management:

• ​The residential roads of Moor Row, particularly Penzance Street, should be clearly designated as 'Access Only.'

This restriction must be strictly enforced by the local authorities. Only residents, delivery drivers, and service vehicles should be permitted to use these routes.

Implementing and policing this measure is the only viable way to curb the excessive rat-running, protect the safety of residents, and ensure the village remains a residential community, not a commuter bypass.

It’s a vital conversation for the community to have to ensure that any future growth is sustainable and serves the long-term interests of Moor Row.

Wildridge Drive Ground Preparation Illustration