COUNCILLORS have given the green light to a controversial retrospective planning application to convert a former church into a pub in the Lake District.

Members of the development control committee for the Lake District National Park Authority voted on Wednesday (October 4) to grant planning permission to change the Wayside Pulpit in Elterwater, subject to conditions, into a food and drink venue known as Lanty Slee’s and provide on-site staff accommodation.

A previous planning application to convert the former church was refused by the committee in November 2022 due to concerns regarding activity and use outside the building.

Applicant Joe Nichols, co-founder of Lanty Slee’s Liquor Co, said: “Our new plan is carefully considered and absorbs every insight shared in the initial committee response.

“The outpouring of local support for the Wayside is indisputable. Letters and emails flooded the Lakes Parish Council following our first submission urging endorsement for our second application.

“Regrettably these voices were not acknowledged in the parish’s submission”.

The Wayside Pulpit is a single-storey stone and slate building located next to Elterwater Common and is approximately 59m from the car parking area at the edge of the common.

A report prepared for Wednesday’s meeting by the head planning officer explained why the previous plans were rejected.

It said: “The development will be disruptive to the tranquillity of the location and harmful to the character and appearance of the area as perceived from the adjacent road and common.”

To address concerns the current application from Lanty Slee’s said no music would be played outside, umbrellas would be dark green, external light would be limited to 500 lumens or less outside and the outside area of the venue would close at 6pm between November and February amongst other changes.

Members of the committee voiced their approval of the changes made to the application.

Chair of the Lake District National Park Authority Tiffany Hunt MBE said: “I must admit when I looked at this, I’m impressed at the steps that have been taken to address the problems.

“I still think there might be understandable concern and understand why objections have been made to this particular application.

“But on balance I think the mitigations proposed have actually addressed the issues we discussed at length last time.”

However Lakes Parish Council opposed the retrospective planning application and warned it could set a “dangerous precedent”.

Chairman of the Lakes Parish Council, Councillor Andy Biggs, said: “Simply by approving this now, despite the revised proposal not addressing the underlying issues, will result in two issues.

“One, you failing to give this area the highest possible protection and two setting a very dangerous precedent for others to operate unauthorised business ventures that will cause long-term harm to our parish.”

The report adds the parish council are also concerned about the development’s impact on traffic and would prefer to see the former church as an ‘affordable permanent local occupancy dwelling’.

The application was approved with an additional condition that any signage would require pre-approval.

Lanty Slee Liquor Co recently won the new tourism business award at the Cumbria Tourism awards and will represent Cumbria nationally at the Visit Britain Awards.