Swim pond at 1 The Old Vicarage, Far Sawrey, Ambleside
Summary of planning committee decision
Decided by Lake District Development Control Committee on 4 Feb 2026.
What was proposed
The application sought permission to create a 5-by-12-metre, 1.5-metre-deep swim pond in the rear garden.
“Application number: 7/2025/5491 Application type: Full Planning application Applicant: [the applicant]: The Old Vicarage, Far Sawrey, Ambleside, LA22 0LQ Grid reference: 337762 495691 Proposal: Creation of a swim pond ( 5 x 12 m 1.5 m deep ) Report prepared by: Abigail Holt, Planner Report agreed by: Kevin Richards, Planning Manager Recommendation: APPROVE with conditions…”
“This application seeks permission for the creation of a swim pond in the rear garden.”
Officer report
The site
The site is one of six apartments in a converted Victorian vicarage, within the conservation area and accessed from Cuckoo Brow Lane.
“The application site is 1 The Old Vicarage; one of six apartments within a converted Victorian vicarage located in Far Sawrey. The site is accessed from Cuckoo Brow Lane, where there is a public right of way (BW510014), and connects to the B5285. The site is located within Far Sawrey conservation area.”
Officer report
What people said
The parish council objected over inadequate drawings and possible flooding, while one letter said the pond would not increase runoff or flood risk.
“Claife Parish Council - Object for the following reasons: - The drawings provided are inadequate - There is no drainage plan in place to deal with the excess water during periods of heavy rainfall and there is a risk of overflow down the steep bank to Cuckoo Brow Lane. The bank has no capacity to absorb extra water and thus creating a risk of flooding to the Scutcheon House commercial units on the lane. One letter of support has been received.”
Officer report
Flood risk concerns
Officers considered flooding unlikely because of the pond’s size, open field infiltration and the absence of recorded surface-water flooding downhill.
“The Parish Council raised concern that excess water may overflow down Cuckoo Brow Lane, resulting in a flood risk on the lane and at Scutcheon House. Currently, there is grass in the location of the proposed pond, which will have some degree of permeability. The proposed pond, when full, would be impermeable.”
“Due to the relatively small size of the pond, and the 30 metres of open field that lies between the site and the lane where water would infiltrate, it is unlikely that the proposed development would result in flooding on the lane. I am therefore satisfied that the development meets the requirements of Local Plan Policy 03 in respect of flood risk.”
Officer report
The committee vote
A motion to approve the application with conditions was proposed and seconded, and members unanimously supported it.
“Motion to approve the application with 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.