15 luxury lodges at M-Sport Ltd, Dovenby Hall, Cockermouth

What was proposed

The application sought permission for 15 luxury lodges providing short-stay accommodation for conferences, corporate events and hospitality events linked to M Sport.

“The application seeks full planning permission for the change of use of land to provide overnight accommodation. It is proposed to site 15 luxury lodges, which will provide overnight accommodation for attendees of conferences, corporate events, and hospitality events associated with M Sport, forming an expansion to the existing M Sport business.”

Officer report

The site

The site is a 1.6-hectare woodland glade within the Dovenby Hall Estate, outside a settlement limit, with access from the A594.

“The application site forms part of the Dovenby Hall Estate, which in total extends to approx. 45ha and is positioned directly adjacent to the small village of Dovenby, 4km north-west from the centre of Cockermouth. It is outside of any defined settlement limit, and it therefore considered to be an open countryside location.”

“The Dovenby Hall Estate is enclosed by historic stone walls and much of the site is screened from public view by bands of mature trees. The northern boundary of the Estate is formed by the A594 to Maryport, and this provides the main access to the site. The southeast boundary is formed by Bridges Beck and the southwest boundary by open fields, with Dovenby village to the northwest…”

Officer report

Advice from consultees

Highways, flood, nature, heritage, emergency planning and utilities consultees raised no objection subject to conditions, while Environmental Health made no further comments after additional information.

“Taking into account the existing use of the site, it is considered that the proposal will be unlikely to have a material effect on existing highway conditions. We can therefore confirm that the Highway Authority has no objection to the proposed development subject to the following conditions being provided as part of any consent you may grant.”

“Additional information was provided by the applicant which set out why a noise report was not deemed necessary. Environmental Health have been consulted on this additional information and have provided no further comments.”

Officer report

Who spoke

An objector, two objectors represented by read-out letters, the Ward Councillor and the agent addressed the committee.

Members’ questions

Members questioned occupancy, flood risk and controls over the lodges’ use; the agent and officers explained the year-round need, drainage measures and conditions.

“A Member questioned how many nights per year would the lodges be occupied and how many of the 34 beds would be occupied at any one time. With the permission of the Chair the agent confirmed that the events take place throughout the year therefore the lodges are required all year round, he also advised that the lodges would generally be solely occupied.”

“A Member referred to the ongoing work that had been mentioned and how it takes into account of any future flood risk, in response the Agent advised Members that following the flood works are being carried out to reinstate that damage caused and that a drainage strategy had to be produced and if this was not acceptable the planning condition could not be discharged.”

Minutes

The vote

A motion to accept the officer recommendation was seconded and approved by seven votes, with none against and one abstention.

“Following consideration of the application a Member moved to accept the Officer’s recommendation, this was seconded.”

Minutes

The decision

The application was approved subject to conditions, including drainage, environmental protection, biodiversity, heritage safeguards and limits on occupation.

“RESOLVED – that the application be approved subject to the conditions set out below with delegated authority being given to the Service Manager for Development and Implementation to add to and/or make any amendments to the conditions as considered appropriate.”

“No development shall commence until detailed plans for permanent protective measures to the listed medieval cross base have been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. The approved permanent protection measures shall be implemented following removal of the temporary protection measures required during the construction phase and shall be completed before the development is brought into use.”

Minutes