ONE of the Lake District's best-known hotels has been given the go-ahead for a major revamp.

The Lake District National Park Authority has granted permission for a series of developments at the Old England Hotel, which occupies a prominent position overlooking lake Windermere in Bowness.

The plans from owners MacDonald Hotels include the demolition of two modern extensions to the north and south of the main building and their replacement with more traditional extensions. The two new wings will provide 19 guest bedrooms, a function room, health and fitness suite, swimming pool and covered car park. The rest of the hotel will also be refurbished.

The applicants said the existing extensions did not reflect the style of the main building and the 73 bedrooms they contained were now substandard. The redevelopment will create a hotel with a total of 91 bedrooms and a range of new and improved facilities.

The plans were opposed by the Royal Windermere Yacht Club, which is based next to the hotel. On behalf of the club, Rear Commodore Roger Thompson told the development control committee that the main concerns were loss of privacy, the scale of the northern extension and noise disturbance. "The club welcomes in principle the alterations to the hotel," he said. "They can only be a vast improvement on what is one of the most prominent sites in Bowness."

But he said that, although the plans had been changed in response to their concerns, the changes did not go far enough. His club still objected to the scale of the proposed northerly extension and was worried that the club's terrace and dining room would be overlooked.

"Members consider that their privacy will be greatly reduced and that the height of the projection, which is some 17 metres to the ridge height and two floors above the roof line of the club, is unneighbourly," he said. Mr Thompson added that they were also concerned that the club steward's residential accommodation would be affected by noise from the function room.

However, planning officer Mairi Lock said amended plans had addressed her earlier concerns. She recommended that the plans be approved, subject to conditions including one controlling noise, and the committee agreed.

A separate application from MacDonald Hotels to build 12 two-bedroom houses on land at St Martin's Parade, currently used as car parking for the Old England, is due to be considered at next month's meeting.