A RETROSPECTIVE planning application to change the use of a dwelling into storage and staff accommodation for a Michelin star restaurant has been granted with conditions.

The application, submitted to South Lakeland District Council (SLDC) relates to Chestnut Cottage on Cavendish Street in Cartmel, which is used in association with L’Enclume restaurant.

According to planning documents the property is a dwelling used by live-in staff, has two sitting rooms, a dining room and a kitchen on the ground floor and three bedrooms and a bathroom on the first floor.

Documents stated: “The proposal is to utilise the two sitting rooms to the front of the cottage for storage for L’Enclume. The rooms are in a prime location for providing storage for the business with easy access to the neighbouring buildings and the street itself.

“The storage areas can easily be sectioned off from the dwelling by introducing a locking system to the central internal door to keep the areas separate.

“The dwelling will still maintain the existing three bedrooms at first floor, with a kitchen and dining/ living room at ground floor. The proposal does not affect the appearance or scale of the building and there are no internal alterations proposed, the application is solely for a change of use.”

Conditions of the approval included: “Within three months from the date of this permission, the bird box shown on the approved plan shall be installed and shall be retained as such thereafter.

“The development hereby approved shall remain as one planning unit and neither element shall be independently occupied without the prior written approval of the Local Planning Authority.

“The storage element shall be restricted to the area shown on the approved proposed plan and shall not be used at any time other than for commercial storage associated with the restaurant known as L’Enclume, Cavendish Street, Cartmel, and for no other purpose.

“When the restaurant ceases to operate the commercial storage shall cease and all materials and equipment brought on to the site in connection with the storage use shall be removed. The site shall then revert to a sole dwellinghouse (C3) use.

“The storage element hereby approved shall not be used, nor shall deliveries be taken or dispatched, outside of the hours of: Monday to Saturday: 09:00am to 16:00pm; and Sunday and Bank or Public Holidays: None.”