Quality homes

Milnthorpe-based Priory Building is seeking permission to change the use of Grange's former Bay View Nursing Home, which has been vacant since its elderly residents were given just 48 hours to leave last November.

If South Lakeland District Council approves the company's planning application, 13 homes would be built on the site, which was forced to close for financial reasons.

In a letter to SLDC, chartered architect John Coward, of Cartmel, said no other commercial use for the site had been proposed, and a change of use to residential seemed the best way forward.

Mr Coward said its redevelopment would enhance the appearance of the original period building, which boasts an elevated woodland setting with views over Grange and the bay.

He said it would also provide quality dwellings in Grange.

If approved, work would include extensions and alterations, as well as the demolition of the swimming pool hall and flat roof extension, fronting the main house and the garage to the rear.

The main house would be remodelled to create five dwellings, while a detached house and garage on site would be replaced with three new properties.

Mr Coward wrote that traffic was not expected to be greater than when Bay View was a nursing home, and it was felt amenities of the existing houses around the site would not be affected.