A bid to restore a Millom building to create a museum, café and outreach centre to show the life of well-known Cumbrian poet Norman Nicholson have been given the go-ahead.
Cumberland Council has approved plans from The Norman Nicholson Society CIC to convert, restore and extend the property at 14 St George’s Terrace in a bid to contribute significantly to the tourism potential of Millom.
Mr Nicholson, who died in 1987, lived almost his whole life at St George’s Terrace.
The society said: “The regeneration of this building by the Norman Nicholson Society also has the potential to contribute significantly to the tourism and community potential of Millom, at a time when local identity is increasingly valued and important for sustainable communities and local economic viability.”
It is proposed that the ground floor will be used as a café which will bring in the main revenue for the project.
The first and second floors will be used as exhibition space with plans proposing that the interior of the property will be designed to depict what it would have looked like during Mr Nicholson’s time living there.
The exhibition space will contain artefacts and memorabilia as well as providing an audio-visual memory experience.
A proposed extension of the property will allow the upgrading of facilities and space for a lift to make the site more accessible to visitors.
A short-term holiday let consisting of a en suite bedroom, is also proposed for the extension to provide additional income.
A report by Cumberland Council planning officers said: “The proposal will diversify and enhance the offer within the town and will regenerate a dilapidated building within a key location.”
