Plans to alter former farmhouse to Air BnB in Thurstonfield, Carlisle

The application, which was submitted to the council on November 24, proposes alterations to provide some accommodation for Airbnb to the listed house at ‘The Hollies’ in Thurstonfield.

Thurstonfield is a small village west of Carlisle; the Hollies is located off a small lane to the north of the village centre.

A design and access statement describes The Hollies as “a large detached property having multiple rooms which can be easily adapted to introduce Airbnb accommodation without major structural work to the fabric of the Listed Grade 2 former farmhouse.”

Internal alterations look set to add a ‘luxury edge’ to the former farmhouse property, including the introduction of a suspended gallery floor in the property, as well as a spiral staircase.

A design and access statement described the “introduction of two conservation rooflights on the South elevation, relocate door into existing cloakroom and add shower at ground floor level, build up partition wall in corridor between the bathroom and bedroom, forming new storage cupboard at first floor leveland form a suspended gallery floor with proprietary spiral staircase in bedroom 2 at first floor level.”

External amendments also look set to turn the property into a luxury Airbnb space if approved, with the proposition of the installation of a pergola and hot tub in the rear courtyard, according to a design and access statement.

Proposed rendering to a part of the property will also improve brickworks that has fallen into a ‘poor condition’ and ‘could cause damage’ to the building.

A design and access statement said: “Externally the introduction of conservation rooflights on the South elevation has been carefully considered and will have little impact on the Listed structure when viewed from the public highway.

“With regard to the rendering on part of the North elevation, this is due to the poor and varied condition of the brickwork which is unattractive and if left could cause damage to the listed building.”

The application has been registered with Carlisle City Council and will be decided upon at a later date.