Plans for a new ‘boutique’ hotel in the Lake District look set to be approved despite objections.
Lake District National Park Authority officers have recommended that members of the development control committee give the green light to proposals to convert Pearsall House, on the western shore of Windermere, into an 18-bedroom hotel when it meets on October 4.
Residents are concerned about the planning authority recommending the approval to convert the former water treatment plant.
Mikhail Hotel and Leisure Group wants to use the building as an 18-bedroom hotel, add a hipped roof and create 24 car parking spaces.
Pearsall House is located on a peninsula on the western shore of Windermere at the chain ferry landing, next to Ferry House. It is currently empty having last been occupied by the Freshwater Biological Association.
However, Claife Parish Council, Windermere Town Council, Friends of the Lake District and many local residents object to the plans.
Locals have pointed out concerns regarding the impact of the proposed development on traffic and the environment.
Windermere resident John Beckitt said: “The building’s external circulating space is so small that car parking will overflow into the adjacent road and gridlock the Ferry queue.
“The building sits on a small peninsular which suffers from flooding of the single road in and out during winter months as well as regular power failures. The flooding will maroon the six holiday lets, 13 apartments and 18 Hotel residencies and the power failures will cut off the pumped water supply from an old, submerged water pump and make all the accommodations uninhabitable.
“The existing wastewater tank regularly overflows into the lake, damaging the lake and the environment. This change of use application is an over-intensive development of the peninsular and lake shore which will irreversibly damage this picturesque west shore area, beautiful lake shore and access to a crucial ferry link – this application must be refused.”
Windermere Town Council also object the proposals and in a report prepared for the meeting said there was a lack of infrastructure, particularly mains water and sewerage which would impact on lake water quality and thus on nature and biodiversity in the area.
However, the applicant says the proposal would bring back into use a large vacant building within the open countryside of the national park which fits the local plan and supports the reuse of existing buildings.
In a planning statement the applicant added Pearsall House has been marketed for alternative uses twice over the past two years, with the only interest being undeliverable due to the issues of the location and size not being attractive to alternative employment uses.
The planning report stated: “Given the location being outside of a local centre, and away from areas usually preserved as the best employment areas such as business parks or close to town centres, it has not attracted alternative employment uses through marketing.”
The application has been recommended for approval subject to a satisfactory response in relation to foul water drainage from United Utilities.
Other conditions include the roof of the extension being covered and maintained in local blue-grey slate that have been mined or quarried in Cumbria.
