A PROPOSAL to change the use of a Keswick guesthouse into residential accommodation has been approved.

Brierholme Guest House, on Bank Street, has been given the green light by Lake District National Park Authority planners to become a House of Multiple Occupation (HMO).

Currently the guest house contains eight bedrooms and owners' accommodation, and the plans do not seek to change the internal or external layout of the building.

The planning decision report comments on the potential harm caused by the loss of tourist accommodation.

It says: "There remains a large number of visitor bed spaces and a wide range of visitor accommodation types in Keswick, including a significant number of guest houses and hotels.

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"To ensure that the accommodation makes a contribution towards redressing identified housing market imbalance, I recommend the restriction includes persons employed, about to be employed or last employed in the locality."

Regarding the potential impact on neighbours, the report says: "I recognise that an HMO may accommodate shift workers some of whom may leave early or return to their late.

"I do not believe that within this context and in comparison to the existing guest house use (which may give rise to comings and goings late at night) this will result in unacceptable harm."