A MAN who has bought a former bank has promised to retain the history and architecture of the building after getting approval to turn it into a residential dwelling.

David Phelan said he was happy to see the support given to him by South Lakeland District Council and neighbours which helped see the application for the former Barclays bank in Main Street, Grange, get the green light.

It led to concerns being raised over banking in the town, which even the 66-year-old was sad to see.

“They know how much I love this building and I am not going to do anything to ruin it,” Mr Phelan said.

“I am 66 and my wife is 70 but we are quite fit and healthy. We live in Grange and it is common knowledge here that a lot of people move down the hill as they get older and move into the town centre and I am just pre-empting that.

“The neighbours are extremely supportive because I think a new business moving in there would cause a parking issue.

“I love quality old-fashioned stuff like this with its architecture and furnishings.

“I know who the architect was who designed it, how it was built and how much it cost to build initially I am that obsessed with it.

“It will never get developed.”

The former tradesman said this was his retirement project and expects to complete the repairs and the renovation himself by this time next year.

The Main Street site dating back to around 1910 was formerly an operational bank in the area until it closed in 2019 and was quickly followed by Lloyds.

The Grade II listed building went under the hammer in an online auction in April 2020 and the building was sold for £137,000.

A report prepared for SLDC's planning committee said: “When weighed against the public benefit of improving the residential amenity of neighbours and ensuring the best suited use of the site should ensure continued maximum sustainable use of the listed building, it is considered that the less than substantial harm is outweighed by that public benefit.”

There were no objections from any local authorities and councils to the proposals - and there were six responses from neighbours all in support of the application.

Lloyds was the last bank left in Grange until it closed, leaving only a Furness Building Society in the area, which was described as devastating by one district councillor.

“The banks promised all sorts to us in terms of bringing vans to the area for banking in person, but I have not seen many,” district councillor Peter Endsor said. “It is devastating for Grange.”