An empty Lake District building, earmarked to be be transformed into a hotel, will have to be reconsidered due to a change in circumstances.
Members of the Lake District National Park Authority’s development control committee have been asked to revisit Pearsall House in Far Sawrey so they can understand the current condition of the site.
Plans to turn the building, on the western shore of Windermere, into an 18-bedroom hotel by Mikhail Hotel and Leisure Group were approved in October, but head of development management Andrew Smith told members on Wednesday: “Since members last considered the application, there’s been changes of circumstance on the site.
“The site condition has changed. It doesn’t reflect what you saw when you went last time so there are material considerations that now need to be taken into account that weren’t before you when you saw it but we haven’t taken a decision.
“I’d like to take you back and show you that site again please so you can see it and understand the current condition.”
The proposals were subject to a satisfactory response from United Utilities regarding drainage which the head of development management would assess and subsequently decide whether to approve.
In a letter sent in March, United Utilities confirmed they were acceptable in principle and proposed an additional condition that drainage for the development was carried out as set out in plans.
The plans previously faced objections from residents and parish councils concerned over wastewater management and overdevelopment.
Windermere Town Council said: “The western shore of Windermere Lake has retained its quiet, unspoiled ambience which would be harmed irrevocably by the introduction of an hotel on this lakeside site.”
Local resident John Beckitt told committee members in October: “Pearsall House is a large building on a small plot so the building almost touches the adjacent Ferry House, looks directly into Ferry House bedrooms and overshadows and deprives Ferry House bedrooms of light.”
He added the building blocks out views of the lake to the south and said hotel guests will overflow into the Ferry House gardens and damage the lake shore.
Julian Handy, the applicant’s agent, previously said: “The site has constraints but it is about finding the best sustainable employment solution and my client is looking to have staff on the site to maintain it, but it has to be sustainable.
“We work on a number of leisure facilities around the lake and this we feel is one that will be a successful project going forward.”
Pearsall House was last occupied by the Freshwater Biological Association.
