A controversial retrospective planning application to convert a former church into a food and drink venue in the Lake District is set to get the go-ahead from planners next week.
Members of the development control committee for the Lake District National Park Authority will decide next Wednesday whether to give planning permission to change the Wayside Pulpit in Elterwater into a food and drink venue known as Lanty Slee’s and provide on-site staff accommodation.
The Wayside Pulpit is a single-storey stone and slate building located next to Elterwater Common and is approximately 59m from the car parking area at the edge of the common.
In a planning statement, the applicant said: “Lanty Slee will diversify the local offering and re-establish Langdale as an area famous for distillation, casting a new light on the valley’s rich but often forgotten history. The further expansion has occurred with the Stickle Barn tenancy.”
The applicant has been previously refused permission by the planning authority to convert the church.
The Lake District National Authority previously said: “The application site is in the open countryside of the Lake District National Park, a protected landscape afforded the highest status of protection for its landscape and special qualities by Local and National Planning Policy.
“Because of the activity which is likely to arise from the use, in particular activity and use outside the building, the development will be disruptive to the tranquillity of the location and harmful to the character and appearance of the area as perceived from the adjacent road and common.”
However Lanty Slee Liquor has made changes to the previous application and propose no music to be played outside, umbrellas/parasols to be dark green unless otherwise approved and the parking area within the site to be available for staff or deliveries only amongst other changes.
Lakes Parish Council object to the proposed development and say the proposals would increase traffic and does not conserve or enhance the natural beauty of the Langdales.
The council said: “Lakes Parish Council does not think that the reuse of this existing building is appropriate as it sits in the open countryside on the common. It doesn’t contribute to the character of the landscape that it sits in nor does it contribute to the character of the building.
“The building would be better served as an affordable permanent local occupancy dwelling.
“The infrastructure of the existing road network in regards to coping with volumes of traffic from customers and service vehicles isn’t suitable and this area already suffers greatly from peak time traffic disruption and anti-social parking. The proposal will/does invite customers to illegally park on the common.”
The report prepared for the meeting by the head of development management for the local authority said: “I do not consider that the proposals would result in harm to the character and appearance of the area, give rise to unsustainable patterns of growth or travel, or cause other harms which the development plan seeks to avoid.”
The application is recommended for approval with conditions.
