A 10-room bed and breakfast could be created at the site of a former Penrith youth cafe, a meeting of the town council’s planning committee was told.
D Fisher has applied to Eden Council for planning permission at Woodland House, which was formerly known as The Bridge, in Wordsworth Street.
Deputy town clerk Ros Richardson said the proposal was to convert it into a single 10-bed property, but keep the commercial aspect on the ground floor as part of a bed and breakfast business, according to a heritage statement accompanying the application.
Committee chairman Scott Jackson said a bed and breakfast with 10 rooms would need 10 car parking spaces.
“The fact that they have submitted to us their intention to create a real parking problem is worrying,” said Mr Jackson.
Mike Shepherd said he, too, was concerned about the parking.
“The whole site seems to me to be very cramped. It’s a classic case of trying to squeeze in as much as you can on a site,” said Mr Shepherd.
He added: “I would be worried about Airbnb as well.
“We know they have been used to rent out whole properties to people who are having stag parties and hen parties and I could see that becoming an issue.”
Mr Jackson said town councillors did not feel they had planning grounds to object, but based on what had been submitted, they believe there will be issues stored up for the future.
No further comment would be offered to Eden Council, he said.
