Mixed reaction to Lake District hotel’s conference venue plans
Last updated at 12:27, Saturday, 28 April 2012
A MAJOR convention centre project on the shores of Windermere goes before planners after winning praise and opposition from local and county groups.
The application, for the Low Wood Hotel between Windermere and Ambleside, will be discussed by Lake District planners on Wednesday. (May 2)
It is hoped the development will be a five-star venue – attracting new business and visitors to the region and helping to boost the local economy.
The application includes detail on car parking and a lake-source heat pump.
The centre would be built on the opposite side of the A591 to the grade-II listed hotel building – with the existing watersports centre moved to nearby motorboat garages.
An in-depth report on the facility claims the structure has been designed to cater for conferences, seminars, exhibitions, conventions, displays, concerts and product launches.
The report to Lake District planners states: “The proposed building has been designed to be a standalone and iconic landmark complementing its location in the heart of the lakes.
“Emphasis, according to the scheme’s architect, has been given to strong visual references to the building’s context and location, maximisation of the views to the lakes and high fells beyond and use of the best, modern, environmentally friendly techniques of construction.”
But there are objections to the proposal, by English Lakes Hotels, which owns the Low Wood.
Eight nearby residents have raised concerns about the size and nature of the proposed building.
Ambleside Civic Trust and Windermere and Bowness Civic Society are urging the planning committee to reject the application.
They want the building screened from the lake and have concerns about reflections from windows.
Issues were also raised about the safety of pedestrians travelling between the hotel and centre.
Cumbria Tourism, the body responsible for promoting the county, strongly supports the application.
In a letter to the national park authority, it states: “The proposed building has been carefully designed to represent its lakeshore setting.
“The Windermere Waterfront Scheme seeks to improve the quality of visitor facilities and the visitor infrastructure to meet the increasingly strong competition.”
First published at 10:40, Saturday, 28 April 2012
Published by http://www.walneylocal.co.uk
More Windermere news
- Cumbrian storms to victory as runners pound round lake
- Windermere rangers take the helm of new patrol boat
- Cumbria County Council election
- Quick action averts second Windermere tragedy
- Calls for more regulations following Lakes boat tragedy
- Decision over 'caravan park' extension in Lakes
- Cumbria detective describes mother and daughter Windermere boat deaths as “an absolute tragedy” (1 comment)
- Cumbria police hunt armed poacher (4 comments)
- Young Windermere Beatrix Potter fans are all ears for Pigling Bland tales
- CCTV appears to show man stealing charity collection box from Windermere pub
- Divers to pluck litter from lake Windermere in ‘largest UK event of its kind’
- Businesswoman launches gifts inspired by Windermere ‘monster’
- Pupils follow Leo’s footsteps
- Gadgets help crack down on Windermere speeders
- Big Chill swim in Windermere
- Bowness protesters voice repository fears (7 comments)
- Cumbria fly tipper fined £705 by South Lakes council
- Drug trafficking Windermere couple stripped of assets
- Supermarket chain heads to Windermere
- Supermarket chain heads to Windermere
- Windermere divers go deep for litter pick day
- Boost to economy and jobs with restoration
- £1.25m will safeguard Lakes jobs
- Approval given for Windermere lake rule changes
- Brazen burglar robbed Windermere house in broad daylight
Evening Mail homepage
ENERGY FOR LIFE 5.1k WALNEY FAMILY FUN RUN
Did you enjoy the Energy For Life 5.1k Walney Family Fun Run?
• Click here to pledge to take part in next year's event on September 2, 2012
Handy links
Follow
us on Facebook
Vote
Quick links
- ‘Spare room tax’ blow for housing tenants across Cumbria (153 comments)
- Delays and dismay as Barrow AFC bullied out of it full report with pictures
- Pleasing entry of lambs on show
- South Lakes park says fertility claims are "inconceivable"
- Video binoculars catch speeders
- New deal for Whitehaven RL coach Don Gailer
- We’re the invisible emergency service
- ‘Drink-driver’ fell asleep in his car in Barrow
- Bluebirds sweat on injured trio
- No title
- Cumbria police hunt armed poacher (4 comments)
- Flooded holiday park to reopen after renovation
- Rory McGrath's new TV show provides timely boost for the Lakes (6 comments)
- Joy for Cumbrian woman told she would never marry
- ‘Spare room tax’ blow for housing tenants across Cumbria (153 comments)
- Delays and dismay as Barrow AFC bullied out of it full report with pictures
- Pleasing entry of lambs on show
- South Lakes park says fertility claims are "inconceivable"
- Video binoculars catch speeders
- New deal for Whitehaven RL coach Don Gailer
 | ||||||||||||
|
 | ||||||
|
Have your say
Be the first to comment on this article!
Make your comment