A Lake District parish council has branded plans for a new Spar store in its village, which could create 30 jobs, as excessive.
In April James Hall & Co submitted a planning application to the Lake District National Park Authority to build the convenience store and petrol station on land at Bragg Field in Hawkshead.
The main part of the 0.27 hectare site is located on the gardens of the former Croft Hotel and will be accessed via North Lonsdale Road.
It is proposed that the store will be open from 7am to 10pm every day and there will be 14 standard car parking spaces, two mobility spaces and two spaces with electric vehicle charging bays for the store.
But Hawkshead Parish Council said: “I am able to report that councillors object to the plans as it is felt that the proposed petrol station, shop and canopy is quite an excessive build for the surrounding area and feel that there is no real need for the filling station.”
A separate objector said: “Hawkshead is a picturesque village with old stone houses and cobblestone streets and this development would completely ruin the overall look and ambience of this beautiful village.”
Concerns were also raised about the proximity of the proposed petrol station to nearby houses.
However other residents have come out in support of the application. One said: “I believe it will help bring more business to the village and can only be beneficial to the community.”
The proposed petrol station will have four petrol and diesel pump bays and it could create 15 full time and 15 part time roles.
The application added: “The site is a suitable and sustainable location for the proposed development and that it will create a high-quality convenience retail and petrol filling station facility which will deliver a range of economic, social and environmental benefits for Hawkshead and the local area.”
According to planning documents, at the moment people living in the area currently have to travel to Coniston, Ambleside or petrol filling stations on the A591 towards Kendal to buy fuel.
It added that removing unnecessary journeys by providing local fuel sales – and additional EV charging – in Hawkshead would provide economic and environmental benefits.
Plans for a Co-op on the site were approved in 2022 but have not been implemented. The application is under consideration.
