PLANS to convert an old toilet building into a cafe at a train station may stall after it was claimed the development would harm the listed building.

A planning application for the tower building at Ulverston train station includes transforming it into a cycle hub and a cafe.

The application was submitted to South Lakeland District Council in October.


The disused tower on Ulverston Railway station. MILTON HAWORTH The tower building at Ulverston train station has been left empty and derelict for a number of years.

Jon Clutterbuck and his wife, Caroline, from Ulverston, approached First Group, the owner of the station with the idea of development earlier last year.

If the plans are approved, Mr and Mrs Clutterbuck would rent the building from First Group.

However, a report submitted by conservational officer, Graham Darlington, has found that the plans “would cause slight harm to the listed structure and so it would fail to preserve its special architectural or historic interest.”

Due to this, Mr Darlington cannot recommend that the planning committee at SLDC approve the application.

He said: “My recommendation, with regard to the historic environment aspects of the proposals, is that further negotiations should take place that address the need for modest improvements to the design so that the level of harm could be reduced.”

The planning application proposes that a cycle hub and a reception room be put on the ground floor and a cafe on the first floor.

The tower building is a listed building and the planning application involves alterations to both the interior and exterior of the building.

The site is overgrown at the moment and is obscured from view.

Since the application has become public, it has attracted support from the Furness Line Action Group, with secretary Tony Parker saying that he thought it was an “excellent idea”.

Ulverston Town Council was also quick to throw its support behind the application.

Councillor Colin Pickthall said: “The fact that it is going to include a cycle hub will be very welcomed in Ulverston.

“I think that’s an excellent idea and it’s one of the reasons I would support this very strongly.”

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