The head gardener of one of South Lakeland's oldest stately homes has spoken out against his employer's plans to build an "architecturally incongruous" glass box next to an historic, listed building.

In a letter to South Lakeland District Council's planning committee, former Blue Peter gardener Chris Crowder criticised plans submitted by Hal Bagot of Levens Hall for a meeting room in the grounds of the stately home.

The room is part of a diversification scheme to convert The Old Stables, a Grade II* listed building, which partly dates back to Elizabethan times, into offices for small businesses.

But Mr Crowder, who has been an employee of Levens Hall for more than 18 years, lambasted the meeting room proposals which he said would be a glass structure with a near flat roof, calling it "architecturally incongruous" and "not in keeping with this historic environment."

He added that the "proposed new building will require the destruction of old structure, walls, gates and out buildings both attached to the old building and within their curtilege."

In addition to this, he said the room would "be clearly visible from public rights of way, footpaths and from vehicles passing on the road" and that this "would detract from the setting of the ancient monument and park land."

Instead of constructing the glass building next to the Old Stables, Mr Crowder suggested placing the development in another area of the grounds or incorporating the room into the main office building.

As well as conference room and offices, Mr Bagot's plans also include extending the main Levens Hall car park and creating six parking spaces next to the stables.

Despite Mr Crowder's comments the proposals met with wide approval from planning committee members. The committee voted to forward plans to the office of the Deputy Prime Minister the next stage in planning applications involving listed buildings.

When asked about his comments, Mr Crowder, who will live next door to the construction if it goes ahead, said that his letter was "not an objection" to the plans.

He said: "If it passes it will be fine but I thought I couldn't let it go without making a comment on it."

However, Mr Bagot was adamant that despite Mr Crowder's criticisms, his development would go ahead as planned.

Speaking to The Westmorland Gazette in the presence of Mr Crowder, Mr Bagot stressed that he was "delighted" with his gardener and that Mr Crowder would remain in his post.

He said: "We wanted to say that this is not a story, it may be a difference of view on our part. He (Mr Crowder) has his view about the glass structure but it doesn't happen to be the same as my own."

See link below for related story.