Plans for a luxury hotel, spa and restaurant, creating about 50 jobs, have been revealed.
A proposal to transform Crossrigg Hall at Cliburn has been put forward by TVFB (4) Limited. Eden businessman Andrew Tinkler is listed as a director of the firm.
Mr Tinkler, a former chief executive of Stobart Group Limited, bought the hall and grounds, which lie between Penrith and Appleby, in 2020 after it had been put on the market with a guide price of £2.75 million.
The firm wants to convert the Grade II* listed hall, which dates from the 1700s, into a hotel, with the Grade II listed stable block transformed into a spa and bedrooms.
Previous owners of the hall were granted planning permission to turn it into a hotel in the 1990s.
TVFB (4)’s plans also include a cookery school and hub building including bedrooms, construction of a new chapel, 15 lodges and a new walled kitchen garden.
It said 50 full and part-time jobs would be created as a direct result of the development and there would also be a large number of jobs created during its construction phase.
Shuttle minibuses will be available for staff and guests – to limit car use – and walking and cycling will be encouraged with new paths created around the site.
A community consultation event was held at Bolton Village Hall so people could view the proposals and ask questions about the proposed development.
Agents Unwin Jones Partnership said feedback was largely positive with people pleased to see that the future of the Crossrigg Hall buildings and grounds would be secured with a viable new use.
It added: “Many also commented that they were pleased that the proposals would provide leisure, bar and restaurant facilities that local people would be able to take advantage of.
“Some concerns were expressed regarding increased traffic and noise, but it was explained that these issues had been addressed in the proposals and the team believe that the impact on local residents will be relatively low.”
The plans have been submitted to Eden District Council for consideration.
Mr Tinkler was a driving force behind Stobart Group. But in 2020, he sold all his shares in the group.
The group’s former chief executive held an almost five per cent stake, which was worth around £20 million.
He was the company’s fifth largest shareholder.
Mr Tinkler was sacked from Stobart Group, which owns Carlisle airport, in 2018 in a boardroom battle which ended up in the High Court.
Stobart Group won the case in February 2019 and the dismissal was found to be lawful.
