A GOVERNMNENT inspector has given the green light for a four-star Lake District hotel to build detached suites and hot tubs.

The Planning Inspectorate has allowed an appeal from English Lakes Hotel for the construction of four detached suites on the grounds of Low Wood Bay Resort & Spa complex off Ambleside Road, after the Lake District National Park Authority (LDNPA) previously refused the plans.

A decision notice issued by the LDNPA in February said the development ‘fails to reflect local character’ and would result in ‘harm to the visual amenity’ of residents and visitors.

“The proposal results in harm to the Outstanding Universal Value of the English Lake District World Heritage Site; and harm to the special qualities of the National Park, including the diverse landscape and the celebrated social and cultural heritage of the National Park”, the notice adds.

However, in a report the Planning Inspectorate declared the suites would not represent ‘incongruous’ development and allowed the appeal conditionally.

According to the planning statement each suite will have an entrance room, bedroom and bathroom, together with an external covered terrace, which will include a private hot tub.

Appeal documents submitted by the appellant state: “The proposals will deliver additional high-quality tourist accommodation as part of an existing tourism site.

READ MORE: Lake District hotel files appeal after lodge and hot tub plan rejected

“The proposed detached suites will deliver design excellence, in keeping with the quality of the site as a whole. They have been designed to integrate into the landscape and will not cause harm to any designated heritage assets, including the English Lake District World Heritage Site.”

Plans say the suites would also have the amenities that would be expected in a hotel suite and guests would have had full access to all the hotel facilities.

The planning statement states: “The applicant provides a significant amount of employment in the local area and therefore makes a substantial contribution to the local economy. The proposed development will add to the range of accommodation that is available to guests, thus enhancing the applicant’s offer.

“This will enable them to continue attracting visitors to the area, which helps to deliver a prosperous economy.”

In planning documents, the hotel admitted that small areas of the current ecological landscape would be lost but the plans would provide an opportunity to enhance the ecological value of the site.

The planning statement says: “A small area of marshy grassland will be lost to facilitate the development – this is mitigated by the creation of additional marshy grassland elsewhere on the site.

The Lakes Parish Council previously objected to the plans as they said the proposed suites were ‘inappropriate’ for the location.

The parish council stated: “The units will have an unacceptable impact on the amenity of the footpath as it will change the feel and experience from walking in woodland to the introduction of visitors which brings with it extra noise, disturbances, light pollution and negative impact on the local wildlife.

“This proposal doesn’t conserve or enhance this location. We feel that it is an inappropriate level of use to the location and doesn’t relate well to the main hotel”, the parish council added.

This appeal was allowed by the Planning Inspectorate on August 28.