PLANS have been approved for alterations to a much loved Lake District hotel, with the owners wanting to improve the area at the front of the hotel.

The proposed alterations to the Lodore Falls Hotel at Borrowdale near Keswick include resurfacing of the drop-off area in front of the hotel, new entrance canopy and fascias to the hotel frontage and alterations to main car park entrance.

Lodore Falls Hotel is an 87-bedroom, hotel and spa set within 40 acres owned by Lake District Hotels.

It is a landmark building with a Lakeland slate façade and has an outlook across Derwentwater with the dramatic backdrop of Lodore Falls waterfall.

The application said: "The hotel was significantly extended in 2018/2019 with the addition of The Falls Spa and 18 spa bedroom suites, new spa garden area, Mizu Restaurant and conservatory.

"Significant landscaping works were carried out to improve the terrace areas alongside the conservatory and the garden areas in front of the spa.

"When the above extensions were added substantial work was carried out to improve access and facilities for guests – particularly those in wheelchairs – with ramps, lifts and accessible facilities throughout the extended areas.

"The hotel owners now wish to improve the area at the front of the hotel and have identified a number of issues to be addressed."

The following works are proposed to address the issues that the hotel has: 

  • Formation of defined accessible parking bays (with electric charging points)
  • Permeable hard surfacing to define vehicle routes, drop off, pedestrian routes and seating areas.
  • New seating area adjacent the beck.
  • New pedestrian ramps up to the main entrance with local stone walls to provide separation from vehicles.
  • New entrance canopy to define the main entrance and provide weather protection.
  • Replacement of low level white fascias with new cedar fascias.
  • Painting of existing white windows to match the grey of the conservatory and other recent extensions.
  •  Widening of exit to the B5289 to improve visibility.
  • Alterations to the entrance to the main car park to provide a dedicated pedestrian route and landscaped zones.
  • Low level lighting.

The plans were approved by the Lake District National Park Authority on January 24 with a number of conditions.