AN APPLICATION to convert two separate holiday lets into a single unit has been approved by the Lake District National Park Authority.

The plan for North Cottage, situated in Storrs, close to Bowness, is to see a new balcony introduced as well as a spiral staircase linking this balcony to an existing paved lower terrace. 

A planning statement submitted in support of the application said merging the existing one-bed and two-bed units at the site into a single, three-bed holiday let would create accommodation that would 'better appeal to families with children'.

"This will help to sustain employment and maintain viability in the visitor economy," said the statement.

"Recycling and improving an existing low-quality holiday let to provide a much higher-quality facility will also help to ease the pressure to convert family housing into new holiday lettings."

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The statement said the closest property was 65m from the planned new balcony at North Cottage, which is situated at the corner of Longtail Hill and Lindeth Drive. 

It said this separation distance meant the balcony would not result in any loss of privacy to neighbours.

The application was submitted by Kate Doran, of Liverpool-based Beatrix Cottage Ltd.