Lake District hotel bosses have lodged plans to convert a former St John Ambulance garage into staff accommodation.
Westmorland Hotels has submitted a planning application to the Lake District National Park Authority to transform the former St John’s Ambulance garage, off Stockghyll Lane in Ambleside, into four units of staff accommodation.
The proposed self-catering units would provide accommodation for staff from the Salutation Hotel.
The plans will also extend the former garage adding seven square metres to the ground floor and 54sq ms to the first floor as well as two parking spaces.
The planning application said the windows, doors, walls, and roof on the proposed development would match the nearby buildings with stone clad walls and slate roofs.
A previous planning application on the same site to convert and extend the garage to provide nine self-catering holiday lets was withdrawn following consultation with a planning officer.
The Lakes Parish Council recommended refusal to the previous planning application and stated: “The proposal will be very domineering and overpowering in scale, design and appearance in this sensitive landscape and will have a negative impact on adjoining residents with overlooking/overshadowing, vehicular access issues and increased anti-social parking.”
The Ambleside Salutation Hotel dates back to 1656 and according to the planning statement is a building of special character within Ambleside Conservation Area.
Ambleside also lies within the Grasmere, Rydal & Ambleside Valley of the Lake District World Heritage Site. The planning application is currently under consideration by the local authority.
