PLANS for a new 16-bed hotel in Grasmere have been refused by Lake District National Park Authority planners.

The two-storey hotel had been proposed on land used as a car park in the grounds of Grasmere Garden Centre, off Red Bank Road.

It was suggested by centre operator, Mark Stewardson, of Bowness, who planned to create seven full time and two part time jobs.

Lakes Parish Council objected on the grounds of over development of the site.

Michael Johnson, clerk to Lakes Parish Council, wrote: “The building is a long, thin rectangle, an extremely basic form of accommodation on a conspicuous site within the conservation area.

“The parish council is of the view that this is the wrong type of development on the wrong site.”

Three letters of objection were received including one from Grasmere Village Society who said the style was inappropriate.

Park planners said the site was in two flood risk zones – one with a medium probability of flooding and the other with a high probability of flooding.

Officers decided to refuse permission.

A report said: “The proposal is within the English Lakes World Heritage Site and the Lake District National Park which is internationally recognised to be of outstanding universal value, where the highest status of protection is given to conserving and enhancing the landscape and scenic beauty.

“The design of the hotel fails to respond to the important landscape character of the area.”

Planners said the form, scale and siting of the building would interrupt open views to the surrounding fells and dominate the town from the surrounding area as well as eroding the historic character of Grasmere’s conservation area.

The applicants had said there were “very few locations” from where it would be visible and that it would form part of the existing set of buildings without being “dominant”.