Letting accommodation refurbishment at Rookin House Farm, Troutbeck, Penrith
Summary of planning committee decision
Decided by Lake District Development Control Committee on 4 Feb 2026.
What was proposed
The application proposed refurbishing existing letting accommodation, adding accessible accommodation and converting a storage barn into additional letting accommodation.
“Application number: 7/2024/3043 Application type: Full Planning application Applicant: [name withheld]: Rookin House Farm, Troutbeck, Penrith, Cumbria, CA11 0SS Grid reference: 338163 525350 Proposal: Refurbishment of existing letting accommodation, including a single-storey extension for disabled use and conversion of existing storage barn to additional letting accommodation Report prepared by: Laura Rogan, Planner Report agreed by: Neil Henderson, Planning Manager…”
“This application relates to the barn which is attached to the original Rookin Farmhouse. Along with the house, the attached barn is a grade II listed building. Permission was first granted in 1983 (7/1983/3006) to convert the barn into hostel accommodation. In 2006 (7/2006/3061) permission was granted to extend the barn and to form a new entrance and new function room.”
Officer report
The site
Rookin House is an established farm, activity centre and equestrian business in open countryside, including listed traditional buildings.
“Rookin House is an established farm, activity centre and equestrian business which lies in an open countryside location between Troutbeck and Matterdale End.”
Officer report
Consultation responses
The parish council objected to holiday accommodation in the storage barn, while highways and flood authorities raised no objections.
“Matterdale Parish Council has no objections to the refurbishment of the existing letting accommodation. However, they object to the conversion of the storage barn to provide additional letting accommodation as this would be in contravention of the Matterdale Neighbourhood Plan MNP1 which would only support the conversion were it for local needs housing and not as additional holiday letting…”
“The Lead Local Flood Authority (LLFA) has no objections to the application has it is not considered it would increase flooding to the site or elsewhere.”
Officer report
Main planning issues
The assessment considered the principle of conversion, appearance, the listed building, neighbours, flooding, protected species, nutrients and pollution.
“The main issues in this assessment are: • Principle • Character and appearance of the area • Setting of a listed building • Impact on the amenity of neighbours • Flood risk…”
“Lake District National Park Authority Development Control Committee 3 December 2025 7/2024/3043 • Protected species • Nutrient neutrality • Pollution control • Other matters Principle…”
Officer report
Committee motion
Members considered a motion to approve with conditions, including preventing occupation other than in association with the existing planning unit.
“7/2024/3043 and 3134 Rookin House Farm, Troutbeck, Penrith Variation of condition 2 Refurbishment of existing letting accommodation, including a single-storey extension for disabled use and conversion of existing storage barn to additional letting accommodation…”
“Motion to approve the application with conditions including an additional condition to prevent occupancy of the buildings other than in association with the existing use of the planning unit at Rookin House Equestrian and Outdoor Activities Centre…”
Minutes
The vote
Members were unanimously in favour of approving the application with the proposed conditions.
“Proposed by [name withheld] by [name withheld] were unanimously in favour of the motion…”
Minutes
Sources
- Lake District Development Control Committee minutes, 4 February 2026
- Agenda and papers (council website)
Source: Plota analysis of Lake District's committee minutes and officer report. Quotations are the council's own words; headings and summaries are Plota's.
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See the API →At the meeting
- Council
- Lake District
- Date
- Wednesday 4 February 2026
- Recommendation
- Officers recommended approval
- Committee decided
- Approved
- Vote
- Unanimous
- Minutes
- The council's minutes
- Meeting
- Agenda and papers (council website)
- Application
- The application (council website)
- All decisions
- Lake District committee decisions →
This committee's year
32 decisions in the 12 months to this meeting, 2 against officer advice.
Source: Plota analysis of the committee's minutes.