A series of major applications which could bring a zip wire attraction, new homes and cafés to the Lake District have been given the green light so far this year.

Here is a lowdown of major planning applications which have been approved by the Lake District National Park Authority in 2024.

READ MORE: Approval for Lake District Zip World at Elterwater quarry

The working quarry (Image: LDNPA)

CONTROVERSIAL plans to build a zip wire attraction in the Lake District that are predicted to attract 50,000 visitors a year were given the green light in May.

Members of the Lake District National Park Authority (LDNPA) development control committee narrowly voted in favour of revised proposals from applicant Burlington Slate Ltd and preferred operator Zip World for the Elterwater Quarry Experience.

The project aims to allow visitors to explore parts of the cavern that had been previously inaccessible for a ‘heritage-based adventure experience’

However, Friends of the Lake District has asked the High Court to review proposals from Burlington Slate Ltd and preferred operator Zip World for the Elterwater Quarry Experience.

READ MORE: Lake District: Dozens of new homes to be built in Bootle

Wellbank Park (Image: F N Solutions)

In April, plans for dozens of new ‘custom-built’ homes and ‘fully accessible’ holiday accommodation on a former military camp in the Lake District were approved.

Members of the development control committee for the Lake District National Park Authority approved plans from FN Solutions, subject to conditions, to build 50 homes, eight short term holiday lets and a community hub at Wellbank in Bootle.

Each plot costs from £120,000 with the build cost on top of that.

The detached houses and bungalows will sit alongside a community hub, giving residents and locals access to a café/bistro, swimming pool, co-working space, meeting rooms and community exhibition space, as well as a hydrotherapy pool, gym, and sensory room.

READ MORE: Lake District: Former Barclays bank in Ambleside to be converted

Former Barclays Bank (Image: Google)

PROPOSALS to convert a former bank into a café in the Lake District were approved in March,

The Lake District National Park Authority green lit plans from Casterton Leisure Ltd to transform the former Barclays Bank at Skylark House in Ambleside into a café.

The Barclays bank on Market Place closed in 2014 after a 60 per cent decline in customer visits.

The three storey building dates from the Victorian era and is constructed with local blue grey dressed slate walls with slate quoins and lintels to the upper floor window openings, plans add.

READ MORE: Lake District: Plans for 25 homes in Staveley approved

Proposed site planProposed site plan (Image: Damson Consultancy Limited)

‘Much needed’ affordable housing in a Lake District village were given the green light in February.

The Lake District National Park Authority (LDNPA) has approved plans from Castles and Coasts Housing Association to build 25 new homes on agricultural land to the east of Crookfield in Staveley.

In August 2023 the LDNPA development control committee delegated approval of the housing scheme to the head of development management to approve the application.

Proposals include building 20 affordable homes as well as five local occupancy homes which will be available to the open market.

READ MORE: Plans to rebuild Keswick rugby club's clubhouse approved

image of proposed clubhouseimage of proposed clubhouse (Image: Manning Elliot Partnership)

In February, plans to demolish an ‘outdated’ clubhouse in the Lake District and build a replacement in a bid to secure the club’s future were approved.

The Lake District National Park Authority ruled Keswick Rugby Club can knock down the old clubhouse at Davidson Park and construct a new facility to make the club more resilient to flooding.

The proposed clubhouse would consist of a two-storey flood resilient building that would contain changing facilities, bar/function space and a gym. Other proposals include the replacement of the squash courts with ‘much needed’ extra car parking spaces for the town.

Planning documents state: “This application proposes a comprehensive re-development of a site blighted by a major flooding issue over a considerable time period that aims to provide a much improved and enhanced facility for the long-term future use by a long-established rugby club as well as the greater Keswick community.”