PLANS to turn a former coach house in the Carlisle area to a café, wedding venue and events space have been approved.
The planning application was for a site at Kirklinton Hall in Kirklinton and, according to the decision notice, permission has been granted by Cumberland Council on the condition that the development shall begin within three years.
According to planning documents, the site covers a total area of 56,487 square metres and it was proposed that the development would create four full time equivalent jobs.
It stated: "Whilst the building has previously been used for a number of small wedding gatherings throughout the year, other functions and events are facilitated."
The planning application, as well as a separate application for Listed Building Consent (LBC), aimed to regularize the use and add the additional use of a café on a part time basis.
The report stated: "The anticipated use of the café is from April 1 until October 30 within a calendar year with anticipated opening hours of 10am to 4pm Sunday to Thursday inclusive.
"The building has been previously sensitively restored with a new slated roof, internal linings and new windows and doors," it said.
"No material change to the external elevations or fabric of the building form part of the LBC and planning application.
"The café will be serviced by a fixed unit to the end gable to provide a kitchen worktop, sink and under counter fridges.
The report concluded: "The existing building has been the subject of previous conversion works and the LBC and planning application does not include for any change to the external appearance or fabric of the building.
"It is considered that the proposed future use of the building will continue to safeguard the building's preservation.
"It is considered that the works do not impact upon the listed buildings. The proposals are also to provide a necessary stream income to enable the continued refurbishment and restoration of the other listed buildings and also ensure their long-term preservation."
Kirklinton Hall is approximately 0.5 km north-east of Kirklinton Church and the Hall itself is located in the civil parish of Hethersgill but part of the site is in Kirklinton parish.
It forms part of the scattered hamlet of Kirklinton, together with St Cuthbert’s Church, the former rectory and school buildings, and a handful of farms.
The original core of the house was built around 1661 for Edmund Appleby, possibly utilising stone from the nearby Levington Castle remains.
The house was modified and enlarged over a period of some 200 years, with extensive enlargement and remodelling in 1875 for the Kirklinton-Saul family, in a Jacobean style.
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