Plans to convert a former guest house in the Lake District into an aparthotel and a three-bed property have been given the green light.
Members of the development control committee for the Lake District National Park approved plans from Steve McMahon to convert Lairbeck House on Vicarage Hill in Keswick into an aparthotel as well as a dwelling which could be a holiday let or residence.
According to a report prepared for the development control meeting the proposed aparthotel will consist of six short-term holiday letting units.
Planning documents state the proposals would result in the change of use and subdivision of the existing building from a 14-bed guest house with owner’s accommodation and the building will now accommodate a maximum of 18 guests – as opposed to the previous guest house format of more than 30 people.
The design and access statement says the current owners purchased and closed the Lairbeck to undergo extensive repairs and renovations in February 2022.
It states: “As two planning units in 2021: a guest house with 14 small, outdated rooms and a small single residential unit, the property was not considered commercially viable or competitive in this format.”
The statement adds the property, after being temporarily merged back into a single land registry entity, is undergoing reconfiguration to “better serve the growing demand for updated, high-end self-catering apartments”.
According to the report prepared for the meeting, Keswick Town Council objected to the proposed development without on-site management.
However, the town council would support the provision of a six-unit aparthotel, provided the separate dwelling is subject to a local occupancy condition and designated for use as on-site management of the facility.
Members of the development control committee approved the plans on March 6.
