A LANGDALE pub is aiming to be the ‘most sustainable in the UK’ after a hydropower scheme was rubberstamped by Lake District planners.

The Sticklebarn, at Stickle Ghyll, which is run by the National Trust, is set to get 50 per cent of its power from a nearby stream now work can begin on the £600,000 scheme.

The plans are one of three key projects across the UK which were approved last week as part of the National Trust’s major renewables investment programme.

“We’ve been working closely with our specialist conservation advisers to ensure these developments are at the right scale and location and work totally in tune with their historic and natural setting,” said Patrick Begg, rural enterprises director for the trust.

“We care deeply about the beautiful places we look after and want them to stay that way forever.

“The renewable schemes we are building will help wean us off oil and reduce our energy costs by more than £4m a year.”

The hydropower scheme could be capable of producing up to 350,000kw of renewable electricity per year, equivalent to the annual usage of more than 80 average homes.

The pub will be powered by around 200 litres of water a second, with energy also used to run a car park and toilets, as well as electric car charging points in the future.

Any excess electricity generated will be exported to the grid.