Lake District: Windermere café glazed extension plan refused

The proposal submitted to the Lake District National Park Authority was put forward by Mr. I Dutton, of Dutton Cuisine, and sought to replace the outdoor seating area at Brown Sugar, located on Main Road in Windermere.

However, the application was refused following concerns about its impact on the character and appearance of the building and the surrounding area.

The café is housed in Acme House, a three-storey mock Tudor building dating back to 1877.

Situated prominently within the Windermere Conservation Area, the building is recognised for its historical significance and contribution to the area's character.

The proposed glazed extension was designed to enclose the existing outdoor seating area, projecting approximately 10 metres from the front of the building, with a width varying between five metres and two metres.

The extension was to be fully glazed with a pitched roof.

The proposal received an objection, raising concerns about the impact of the glazed extension on the character of the building and the surrounding area.

The objection stated: "Not only are the existing balcony glazed extensions and signage an absolute travesty on what is a particularly fine and prominent building in Windermere but further destruction of this building within the Conservation area should not be considered favourable by the planning committee.

"There comes a time when if the building cannot serve its purpose that the business should consider moving to more appropriate premises."

The planning officer's report highlighted that the building, despite a recent modern balcony addition, remains a historically significant feature of the conservation area and positively contributes to the character of the area.

The report stated: "As a result of the size, contemporary design, and position of the extension on the front elevation and in a prominent public position, I consider that the proposed glazed extension would appear as a modern and incongruous addition which fails to reflect the character and form of the existing building or reinforce local distinctiveness.

"The extension would therefore harm the character and appearance of the building and the contribution it makes to the streetscene of this part of Windermere.

"The proposals would therefore harm rather than preserve or enhance the character of the Windermere Conservation Area."

The report also noted that the public benefits of supporting an existing business in a town centre location were insufficient to outweigh the harm identified.

The applicant had pointed towards other glazed extensions within the area as justification for the proposal.

However, these were deemed by the officer to be in entirely different buildings and contexts that are not directly applicable to the application building.

The Lake District National Park Authority refused the planning application, stating: "The proposed glazed extension as a result of its large size, prominent position on the building and within the public realm, and contemporary design would be harmful to the appearance of the building and streetscene of this part of Windermere.

"The development would therefore harm rather than preserve or enhance the character of the Conservation Area.

"This harm would not be outweighed by public benefit."