A pub company is appealing a decision to refuse planning permission for a proposed convenience store in Kendal, it can be revealed.
The plan for the shop in the car park of The Duke of Cumberland proved extremely controversial, attracting more than 700 objections.
South Lakeland District Council’s planning committee voted against the scheme last year, but applicant Punch Partnerships (PML) Ltd has now turned to the Planning Inspectorate in a bid to have the decision overturned.
The news follows last month’s approval of a retrospective application to extend the life of the larger-sized beer garden – extended during the pandemic – at the Duke, which sits at the corner of Appleby Road and Shap Road. This approval is to expire after one year.
A spokesman for Punch said: “We have applied for a temporary consent to comply with the requirements of the council in relation to the outside drinking area pending the outcome of our planning appeal.”
Josh Macaulay, a director of the Duke, is firmly against the convenience store scheme. He said the beer garden seated a maximum of 180 people – compared to 50 inside the pub – and would have to be reduced in size if a shop was built in the pub’s car park.
“The things that make the Duke successful are its beer garden and its car park,” he said.
“The Duke tends to lose money and trade at a loss over the winter months. It will break even in autumn and spring and then we rely on the summer profit to offset any loss we have made over the winter and, hopefully, have some left to make the site worth running.”
Mr Macaulay said the beer garden at the Duke only had three tables before it was extended in 2020.
Among the stipulations was that a noise management plan be submitted to and approved in writing by the council within three months.
