A bid to turn a holiday let into a permanent home has been thrown out by planners.
Equorium Property Company Limited asked for permission to allow The Forge at Skellion Farm at How Mill, near Brampton, to be used as a home and a ‘holiday let when needed’ due to the downturn in bookings and the difficult economic climate.
But Carlisle City Council’s development control committee refused the application because it could set a precedent for other holiday lets.
The property replaced an open-fronted metal shed at the farm and when permission for that was granted in March 2014, conditions were attached which meant it could only be used as a holiday home and not permanent occupation.
Case officer Stephen Daniel said: “The new-build holiday let replaced an open fronted metal shed, which wasn’t capable of conversion to a dwelling.
“Current planning policies permit conversion of redundant or disused buildings to dwellings provided the development leads to enhancement to the immediate setting of the building.”
He said that the proposal to use the building as more permanent residence, as well as a holiday let if needed, would not be an enhancement.
But the applicant said the decision was motivated by the difficult economic climate and the impact of COVID-19.
The firm said: “This was a sustainable holiday let business based on lettings for 27 to 28 weeks per annum. In 2019, this had dropped to 14.2 weeks in 2020 this was 11 weeks, in 2022 this is now only 7.8 weeks.
“In the case of The Skellion it comprises three residential properties and the holiday let subject to this application.
“Members will understand the very specific concerns of this site, revolving around the periods this holiday let remains unoccupied.
“In such circumstances, the current application has been submitted to give greater flexibility thereby enabling The Forge to be occupied either as a holiday let or for a more extensive period as a residential dwelling.”
The applicant said it saw the property being used by agricultural contractors carrying out work on the estate.
But Mr Daniel said that if the council allowed the change it could set a precedent for the conversion of other new-build holiday lets and dwellings and recommended that councillors refuse permission.
