A controversial project to bulldoze a landmark £1.5 million Lake District property on the shores of Derwentwater may not go ahead after all.
A meeting takes place on May 4 to officially decide the future of Brandlehow Cottage at Manesty, with Lake District National Park Authority planning officers now recommending that its committee turn down the demolition plan.
The proposal was lodged in autumn by award-winning London-based Knox Bhavan Architects, on behalf of the applicants, top Harley Street cosmetic surgeon Jag Chana and wife Kate, who wanted to replace it with an exemplar low carbon eco-home.
But the proposal generated a flood of correspondence to planners, the majority against demolition, but some in favour, with more than 300 representations.
Letters have poured in from residents, visitors to the area, and stakeholders including local parish councils, and the Friends of the Lake District, among others.
The property is close to the Teddy in the Window landmark on the lakeshore path, with the attraction generating letters, cards and notes from passers-by, which the new owners of the property have pledged to maintain.
Planners have recommended refusal on the following grounds: “The loss of the building would be harmful to the heritage interests and we consider that the information submitted does not demonstrate clear and convincing justification for the harm caused.”
The planner’s report added: “From the information submitted and my own observations, I do not doubt that the building would benefit from work to improve its condition … I do not, however, find that the information that has been submitted is sufficient to demonstrate a clear and convincing justification for the removal of the building.”
It went on: “The existing building is traditional, expected and unremarkable in this setting, with the effect that most visitors will be focused on the lake rather than the architecture, while from a distance the building appears as a contrasting white feature in the landscape and acts as a focal point.
“In contrast, the proposed house would recede when viewed from distant viewpoints but would be quite arresting in the intimate, close-up views.
“For some viewers the effect will be exciting, and for others it may be startling and elicit a negative effect. I would venture to suggest that few would be neutral.”
Environmental consultants, HCUK Group, have submitted a heritage impact assessment on the applicants’ behalf.
It said Brandlehow Cottage makes a negligible contribution to the outstanding universal value of the Lake District world heritage site and therefore its loss and replacement would have a minor effect on the WHS.
HCUK told planners the development would have some positive and some negative impact and it would not conflict with the special qualities of the Lake District.
A decision on the application will be made by the LDNPA development control committee at the meeting in Kendal on May 4.
