Kendal Bowman pub gets new lease of life as flats and offices (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Kendal Bowman pub gets new lease of life as flats and offices

1:00pm Thursday 1st November 2012 in News By Daniel Orr, Reporter

COMMUNITY leaders in Kendal have welcomed news that a run-down historic building in Kendal will be given a new lease of life.

The former Kendal Bowman pub, which has been derelict for more than six years, will be transformed into seven self-contained flats and offices after South Lakeland District Council Planning Committee gave the proposal the green light.

Fairoak Housing Association, which provides accommodation for people with disabilities, is behind the move to revitalise the former Highgate hostelry.

Back in 2006, the Bowman became one of the many victims of the hard times facing the pub trade, and an SLDC report detailed that since then there had been ‘a lack of maintenance on the building and its current condition and appearance are poor’.

Such has been the state of the premises that an online blog on the popular website knowhere.co.uk even called for it to be demolished.

Town mayor Coun John Willshaw said he was right behind the proposal and thought it would revitalise that area of the town centre.

“It is great news for Kendal and I really am very pleased. In its present condition, the premises does no justice for the high street in that area.

“Its improvement will very much raise the profile of the beautiful buildings that we have in Kendal.

“It is a nice building and I think the design of the plans will compliment it very nicely indeed.”

His sentiment was echoed by Tony Wrathall, the chairman of Kendal Civic Society, who said: “We are certainly pleased that this building is to be re-established.

“Obviously we have had concerns over the past few years about the building being empty and an eyesore after it closed, but like many pubs in Kendal, the Bowman was affected by the general downturn in the pub trade.”

The proposal was unanimously approved by members of the planning committee with Coun Sylvia Emmott proclaiming: “I shall be delighted to see this building brought back to life.

“It has been an eyesore for many years. Fairoak do great work in our area.”

Committee vice-chairman Coun Sheila Eccles added: “To see this building brought back into use would be a wonderful thing.”