MAJOR development plans for a historic Furness landmark were met with unanimous approval by planning bosses.

Stone Cross Mansion, near Ulverston, will become a desirable residential area, with 19 self-contained flats within the building itself, and 45 detached homes being built in the grounds.

The plan for the Grade-II listed building was submitted by Charles Church Ltd, and is the latest in a series of attempts to develop the location.

The mansion - which has sat empty since 2002 - will house units with two and three bedrooms, and there will be parking space for 32 cars.

The 45 detached homes, will be situated in three clusters linked by a new road, running from the gatehouse up to the north of the land.

A three-bedroom residential property will also be made out of the gatehouse.

As well as transforming the land into a residential area, the developers will carry out extensive restoration work on the well-loved building and its formal gardens.

Modern dormers which were added to the building before it was listed are to be removed, and the concrete scar left by the removal of the orangery will be corrected with stone.

An ornamental veranda is to be added, and three original Besche paintings, which were in the hall and are now being conserved and are to be returned to the site.

Initial opposition to the development came from Ulverston Town Council, who suggested the new houses should be affordable homes. However SLDC opted to allow higher-end development.

Cllr David Williams told South Lakeland District Council's Planning Committee, said: "In all my years on the council here I think this is one of the most exciting things we have seen.

"If the people of Ulverston saw what was going to happen and the improvements it would bring to their town I think they would have voted in favour of it.

"It's a shame that the town council asked for affordable homes which is not appropriate here.

"We will get to restore a Victorian mansion and it will be restored to all its former glory. I want to commend the tremendous effort of the officers and staff in getting this development before us."

Stone Cross Mansion was built in 1874 for the industrialist Miles Kennedy. It was purchased in the 1950s by Lancashire County Council and used as a special needs school for almost 20 years.

It was then bought by local firm Marl International, who used it as their headquarters until 2002. Since then it has been owned by a variety development companies.