Staff accommodation lighting at The Swan Hotel, Keswick Road, Grasmere

“Application number: 7/2025/5367 Application type: Confirmation of compliance with condition attached to planning permission Applicant: Inn Collection Group Location: The Swan Hotel, Keswick Road, Grasmere, LA22 9RF Grid reference: 334016 508317 Proposal: Approval of details reserved by condition 9 (external lighting) on planning permission 7/2018/5182 - proposal to provide a new staff accommodation block with relevant landscaping, bins and bikes storage in the northern part…”

“The application is seeking approval of external lighting details reserved by condition 9 on planning permission 7/2018/5182, which was an application to provide a new staff accommodation block with landscaping, bins and bikes storage in the northern part of the Swan Hotel site, at Grasmere. In this report planning permission 7/2018/5182 is referred to as the ‘original planning permission’.”

“The application site is situated to the rear of the Swan Hotel and adjacent to the lane which passes the southeastern side of the hotel. There are dwellings immediately to the east of the site on the opposite side of the lane, and dwellings surround the site in wider arc from the northeast, north, round to the west of the site. It is within a wider area of development associated with the rural service centre of Grasmere.”

“Between the rear of the site and the lane with dwellings to the north are fields. From the lane here the site is seen over the fields, but in the context of the existing development that fronts the A591 road, which the hotel also fronts. As you get closer to the site, it is seen in the context of the other dwellings to the east side of the lane and the hotel itself.”

“The background to the application is lengthy. Details of external lighting for the ground floor of the building were approved in July 2023 (reference 7/2023/5381). That application approved the following lighting details - "One Light Data Sheet – Product 67430 (restricted to 2200 Kelvins)". These are small square wall mounted light units measuring 197mm x 197mm, which project 52 mm from the wall of the building. The light is directed downwards.”

“The external ground floor lights are therefore approved. However, at the same time as the ground floor lights were installed additional lighting was also added to the soffits and walls at first floor level over the walkways and at the stairs at each end of the building. This lighting was considered unacceptable and a breach of condition notice (ref. E/2021/0356) was issued on 19 September 2024.”

“Friends of the Lake District (FoLD): The application contains specification sheets for the proposed sensor, bulkheads and bulbs which will be used for the lighting on the first-floor terrace area and stairs. The bulkheads will be placed on the internal wall of the stairs and external terrace however there are no details regarding the height they will be positioned at. Their impact is likely to be greater the closer they are to the top of the wall. Further details…”

“Fire Exit Signs: It appears from the drawings that 4 external fire exit signs are proposed however no further details have been submitted regarding these. It is not clear whether these signs will be wall mounted or hanging and whether or not they will be illuminated. Further details should be provided in this respect.”

“Motion to approve the application unconditionally…”

“Proposed by [name withheld] by [name withheld] were unanimously in favour of the motion…”