Historic cottage could be set for facelift

A historic cottage could receive a facelift if plans are approved by the council.

Plans have been filed with Westmorland and Furness Council to remodel and refurbish a historic two-storey farm cottage.

The proposal, lodged by Ms Porter, asks the council for permission to touch-up Burton House, Skelsmergh, Kendal.

Works detailed in the proposal are new wall finishes, both inside and out, new floor slabs, new partitions, insulating of the roof, new rooflights, new timber windows and new window openings in existing walls, new front door a stone faced lean-to single storey extension to the north elevation and a contemporary glazed extension top the west elevation.

The application reads: “Dating from the 17th century, the farmhouse exhibits typical vernacular Westmorland characteristics, coursed stone rubble, slate roof, drip course, gabled porch and squat axial chimneys.”

It continues: “The barns were historically agricultural in function, later adapted for domestic ancillary use.”

The property is a grade II listed building under the name ‘Burton House and attached barn and outbuilding’.

Elsewhere, planning documents read: “Without substantial and coordinated investment in the repair and adaptation of the building, there is a real risk that Burton House Farm will continue to decline, eventually reaching a state where meaningful conservation becomes unviable.”

It continues: “The design has therefore been developed as a holistic intervention, one that respects the heritage significance of the building while providing the means for its sustainable, long-term use.

“Each element of the proposal serves a dual purpose: to stabilise the existing structure and to re-establish its integrity as a functioning home.”

The proposal construction hours of the development are listed as 8:00 to 17:00 Monday to Friday and 8:00 to 14:00 on Saturdays.

All equipment on site will be fitted with industrial standard silencers and ‘care will be taken to ensure noise is controlled’.

Due to the location of Burton House, dust is not anticipated to be a ‘big problem’.

Nevertheless, dust levels will be ‘subjectively monitored’ by the site manager, if dust does become a problem, damping down measures can be implemented.

The consultation period for the proposal is set to run until January 11.