A Carlisle spa has revealed plans to improve its facilities to provide an enhanced experience for customers.
Rickerby Retreat wants to convert Rickerby Cottage on the site into spa facilities and build a replacement residential home.
Rickerby Retreat comprises a spa and bistro. It includes a swimming pool, steam room, sauna, six treatment rooms, which offer a range of treatments,
and a licensed café and restaurant.
Its owners have lodged a planning application with Cumberland Council to change the four-bedroom cottage so it provides extra treatment rooms and improved staff accommodation and storage space.
It said the alterations to the cottage are all internal, with an extra four treatment rooms and manicure room on the ground floor.
The ground floor would be linked to the spa by forming a large opening between the swimming pool and the proposed lounge/treatment room waiting area.
On the first floor two of the bedrooms would be linked to create a staff room with kitchen facilities, with a third bedroom becoming an office.
The existing bathroom and en suite would be reused as a WC and changing room for staff and the fourth bedroom would serve as a pantry to the existing kitchen facilities in the spa.
The planning application said: “The change of use of Rickerby Cottage to provide enlarged facilities does not result in an increase in the number of customers that the spa can accommodate as the number of treatment rooms remains the same.
“What it does achieve is an improvement of the standard of the facilities for guests through larger changing rooms, improved treatment rooms and circulation space; all of which will enhance the customer’s experience thereby encouraging repeat use of the facility.
“Significant emphasis has been placed on improving the facilities for staff, thereby enhancing their working experience, which assists the owners in recruiting and retaining staff.”
The replacement property for Rickerby Cottage would be built in the western side garden of the existing cottage.
A CARLISLE cottage could be used for the expansion of the spa facilities at Rickerby Retreat if the plans are approved by Cumberland Council.
The application is for Rickerby Cottage and Rickerby Retreat, in the Rickerby area of the city and, in addition, it is proposed to build a replacement detached dwelling to replace the residential use of Rickerby Cottage.
According to a planning statement the application site, extending to approximately 2.1 acres, is located on the western edge of the settlement.
It states: “The site is largely enclosed by a flood defence wall, which runs adjacent to Rickerby Park Road, crosses the applicant’s land, and returns alongside Brunstock Beck to the south of the application site.
“Beyond this lies Rickerby Park, which is in turn bounded by the River Eden. To the north-east of the application site are Rickerby Lodge and the Grade II listed Study Quiet. To the south-east is the former Eden School, which is also a Grade II listed building.”
According to the report currently the application site comprises two semi-detached buildings. It states: “One of these dwellings accommodates the Rickerby Retreat Spa and Bistro, while the adjoining property to the west, Rickerby Cottage, is currently occupied by the applicants.
“The buildings are predominantly finished in a red (heritage style) brick and white render, with quoins and window surrounds formed in buff sandstone.
“Recently, the site has undergone numerous extensions and alterations, largely contemporary in character and typically characterised by extensive areas of anthracite-framed glazing.”
In relation to the heritage appraisal the report states Hadrian’s Wall World Heritage Site and the associated scheduled monuments to the north have not been assessed as part of this assessment.
It adds: “This is due to the limited intervisibility between these assets and the application site, resulting from existing residential development to the south of Brampton Road, as well as established hedgerows and mature tree lines.
“As a result, the proposed replacement dwelling would not result in visual impacts on their setting and would therefore not affect their significance.”
The planning application is currently being considered by planning officers at the council.
