A landscape charity has joined other objectors to a controversial proposal to alter and extend a cottage on the shores of Derwentwater in the foothills of Catbells.
Friends of the Lake District say they are concerned to learn about the application for Brandlehow Cottage, at Manesty, two years after a previous application to demolish and replace the building, which attracted hundreds of obections, was refused by the Lake District National Park Authority.
It points out that previous investigations into the heritage of the building found that the cottage is the only remaining roofed building connected to the Brandlehow lead mine, and may be the only building left linked to one of the Elizabethan mineral mines in the Lake District.
“The new proposal contains several design aspects that would significantly alter the character and scale of the dwelling,” says FoLD. “Our concerns lie not just with the alterations to this historic property itself, but the impacts on views and the character of the area, wildlife and access — a well-used footpath passes between the house and the lake, and this proposal would require a diversion to be put in place.”
The property is close to the Teddy in the Window landmark on the lakeshore path, which is often admired by passers-by.
In its objection Borrowdale Parish Council has called on the retention of the garage which houses the Teddy in the Window tradition. It is covered in notes, postcards, letters and cards going back decades and has its own Facebook page and has raised money for charity.
The parish council has appealed to the LDNPA and the developers to continue this “small but valued community feature” as the tradition contributes to the “intangible cultural heritage and sense of place that defines Borrowdale” and to support the outstanding universal value of the World Heritage Site.
A previous application, submitted by Jag Chana, a Harley Street cosmetic surgeon and his wife Kate, to replace the cottage with an eye-catching strikingly modern house, was turned down by the LDNPA’s development control committee in May 2023, despite its green credentials.
The applicants suffered online abuse which was described as being highly regrettable at the meeting. The applicants said at the time it was their intention to keep the Teddy in the Window attraction.
Objector Luke Browne says the current application features significant areas of glazing which he says will be a conspicuous source of reflections by day and very probably, of light pollution by night.
He adds: “Brandlehow Cottage is a relatively modest house which in its current form is a settled part of the lake shore. The current application, like the previous one, is trying to take the house far beyond anything that can be appropriate for the setting, or for the existing house.
“The proposed house would disfigure both the lake shore and the wider area by imposing a wholly inappropriate and over-scaled modern house.
“The proposals are fundamentally selfish in nature in that they fail to acknowledge the impact of such a significant development of a relatively modest property on those who know and love this area as it is.”
Objector Professor P Hardie said: “The proposed alterations and extensions are entirely out of keeping with the traditional materials of vernacular Lakeland architecture, and would constitute a gross and unwelcome intrusion in a very sensitive location, passed by numerous walkers every day through Manesty and Brandlehow, and highly visible from the lake and from the other side of the lake.
“I have been visiting Manesty for over 50 years, and hope this eyesore will not be granted approval.”
