A LAKE District hotel has lodged plans to change a former guest house into staff accommodation - to try and target staff recruitment and retention in the area.

The Inn Collection Group (ICG) have lodged plans to convert the former guest house at Beech House at Glenridding into staff accommodation.

The group have recently refurbished The Ullswater Inn at Ullswater, adding an additional 18 bedrooms to the property.

Following the refurbishments at the Ullswater Inn, the group have lodged plans to try and attract more staff to the area, in a bid to combat the staff recruitment and retention issue in the area, which is a 'critical issue' particularly within the Cumbrian hospitality sector.

A planning statement supporting the application said: "Following a recent refurbishment, ICG has increased the bedroom stock at The Ullswater Inn with an additional 18 guest bedrooms and increased the bar area with around 60 additional covers.

"This has had a positive impact in terms of supporting the local economy and creating additional employment opportunities.

"However, staff recruitment and retention in the local area remains a critical issue particularly within the hospitality industry. This is largely due to a lack of a suitable, affordable and available accommodation for workers.

"In line with ICG’s sustainability objectives, it is important for staff to be able to reside close to their place of work."

The group have said that should the application be passed, it will help them ensure that they can better recruit and retain staff, helping the hospitality business in the area to survive.

Documents supporting the application said: "The provision of suitable, affordable and available accommodation for staff is essential for hospitality businesses to survive.

"ICG’s proposals to use the site for staff accommodation will help ensure they can recruit and retain a workforce to sustain its existing hotels which support the tourism and visitor economy in the Lake District and locally within Glenridding."

The application states that no internal or external alterations to the building or site are proposed as part of the application.

The application will now go through a consultation process with the Lake District National Park Authority, with a decision set to be made at a later date.