Major plans for dozens of new homes and a fully accessible holiday accommodation on a former military camp in the Lake District are set to be given the go-ahead.
Members of the development control committee for the Lake District National Park Authority are recommended to approve plans from FN Solutions to build 50 homes, eight short term holiday lets and a community hub at Wellbank in Bootle.
A hybrid planning application, which includes full planning consent for 18 homes as well as outline planning permission for 32 homes, a 40-bedroom hotel and six business units, was approved in 2015 and this remains a fall back option for the developer.
Work has started on the site in relation to the previous application.
The new proposals consist of 50 new homes including 12 affordable properties as well as eight holiday letting units that would allow disabled and non-disabled people to take holidays together in dedicated, suitable accommodation, planning documents state.
According to the design, access and heritage statement, extensive discussions with hotel operators have failed to find an interested operator for the previously proposed 40-bedroom hotel.
“However there has been demand from a specific operator to instead build fully accessible and full supported holiday units for those with medical disabilities, with shared services building (the ‘hub’). These would be very bespoke purpose built units meeting a very specific tourist need”, plans added.
Alongside the letting units an associated hub is proposed which would provide a pool, catering and meeting facilities to serve people staying in the holiday lets, other residents on site and the wider community. The building would also provide flexible employment space and meeting rooms available to be let on short basis.
Planning documents said: “The benefits of this application are that the economy is boosted in a sustainable location by new mixed use development which is designed and planned to work as a community with permanent residents able to access and use the hub facilities, as well as shared areas of open space.
“The tourist units deliver a very specific and unmet need, bringing visitors to the local area and improving the quality and value of the tourism offer.”
According to the design, access and heritage statement the proposed development could bring 35 jobs to the area.
Members of the development control committee for the Lake District National Park are set to approve the plans on April 3.
