PLANS to build staff accommodation for a pub which dates back to the 16th century have been given the green light in a bid to attract ‘desperately needed new employees’.

The Lake District National Park Authority has approved plans submitted by the Blacksmith Arms near Broughton-in-Furness to construct a two-storey building that would provide three units of staff accommodation.

Proposals also include replacing a ‘dilapidated’ garage used for storage and installing a new package sewage treatment plant that will serve both the Blacksmith Arms and the proposed staff accommodation building.

The Blacksmiths Arms dates back to 1577 and was originally a farmhouse called Broadstones. In 1748 archive records list the property as being an Inn, working farm of 34 acres and blacksmiths. Before this it would have been a 'beer house' with the farmer serving ale in the kitchen for travellers and local workers.

A design and heritage statement submitted on behalf of the applicant states: “The development proposal is to provide high quality staff accommodation in order to attract desperately needed new employees. Currently the premises is forced to manage itself seasonally at less than half capacity.”

The applicant adds the staff accommodation is needed for the ‘long term viability of the pub’ which the report states is of ‘national importance’ given the building has a grade II listed status.

The statement adds: “The public house has proved a popular destination however has had to turn away substantive latent patronage due to lack of staffing. The lack of experienced staff impacts the prosperity and long-term sustainability of The Blacksmiths Arms.”

According to a planning statement, bookings have to be limited to 25 guests a day due to a lack of staff when the pub should be hosting 60 guests as a minimum.

It adds that even serving this many guests has been dependent on the owner working over 60 hours a week.

The planning statement says the lack of experienced staff impacts not only the prosperity of The Blacksmiths Arms but also nearby campsites which are reliant on the provision of food and drink locally.

The pub, which dates back to 1577, is located to the west of Broughton Mills and is approximately 3km north of Broughton-in-Furness.

A previous planning application submitted by the applicant to construct a three-storey staff accommodation block was withdrawn following advice from planning officers that the design, scale and massing of the proposals would detract from the setting of the listed building.

The revised design utilises traditional materials, rectangular plan form, and makes use of the existing topography to create the appearance of a single storey building from the east and utilises the drop in ground level to provide a two-storey west elevation taking the form of a bank barn.

This planning application was approved by the Lake District National Park Authority on Thursday (November 2).