Plan for 15 luxury lodges at motorsport team's HQ
Cumberland CouncilLuxury lodges are planned for the home of World Rally champions M-Sport.
Members of Cumberland Council's planning committee are expected to give the go ahead to the development at Dovenby Hall near Cockermouth on 15 July, despite objections.
The 15 lodges on the former hospital site would provide short stay overnight accommodation for events at the Dovenby Estate, the motorsport business said.
Ward councillor Martin Harris has raised a number of concerns about the application including flood risk, noise, increased traffic, the effect on the natural environment, and the effect on a nearby listed building.
According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, the estate extends to about 45 hectares (111 acres) and sits next to Dovenby village.
It is 2.5 miles (4km) north-west from the centre of Cockermouth.
However, it is outside of any defined settlement limit and therefore considered to be an "open countryside location".
Five objections were received with concerns about overdevelopment, the wrong type of accommodation, and there being other established holiday units in the area that could cater for the proposed market.
Cumberland CouncilThe site has a 1.6 mile (2.5km) test track, evaluation centre, modern workshops, offices, and facilities for events, built around historical original buildings, including Dovenby Hall and Pele Tower.
The proposals state the lodges would be clad in timber and located around a curving access road, off the A594, which encloses a proposed water feature.
Two of the lodges would include a hot tub.
New planting was proposed between the lodge pitches, and each pitch would have two car parking bays with EV charging points.
It was recommended the application would be granted subject to conditions.
