PLANS to convert a shed in the Lake District into ‘family friendly’ accommodation to support an art organisation is set to be given the go-ahead.

Members of the development control committee are recommended to approve proposals from Grizedale Arts to convert and extend a workshop on Lawson Park on the eastern shore of Coniston into a dwelling.

The proposed conversion will add to the accommodation offer for artists visiting the organisation at Lawson Park.

Plans state: “This will provide fully accessible, family-friendly accommodation as an extension to Lawson Park’s facilities, enabling Grizedale Arts to better support artists with dependents or access needs to come and work with the local communities and expand Grizedale Arts programme reach.”

Plans say the proposed dwelling will be self-built through a series of construction workshops, led by trained craftspeople, aimed at teaching traditional craft and construction skills to local women in a bid to address the ‘gender imbalance’ in the construction industry.

According to the applicant there is also a ‘lack of suitable accommodation’ attached to residency programmes that enables artists with access needs or caring responsibilities to participate.

Planning documents state: “The Black Shed project will address this issue directly, creating a flexible space that will enable artists and volunteers with access requirements, or those with caring responsibilities, who need to travel with a carer, to participate in artist residencies on site at Lawson Park. In doing so, it will provide equal access to the opportunities offered by Grizedale Arts.”

The application will be considered on August 7 by the development control committee.