Hopefully no further planning permissions will be granted.

The Purple House is going to be replaced by two dwellings, with enough parking for 7 cars. 

See here:

http://www.friendsofriggbeck.org

I wonder how long ago Bob Hoskins and Victoria Wood stayed in it? Must be before they made it, I mean if you were a medium big name in entertainment you'd think you could afford a b&b in Keswick.  - Wrote Paul.

Famous people tend to have their runners/assistants source out for them quiet very out of the way places to stay in whilst on holiday or when on location for filming - away from the crowds, and away from potential bothers of autograph hunters and snappers alike. At the old EG cinema for instance, where I was for a good few years a projectionist in the eighties, we quite often saw the stars coming to see finished screeenings of their films. Being so close to Gatwick airport here, they preferred to go to a poky little old small town cinema, rather than brave the crowds at the bigger multi-screen cinema at Crawley 9 miles away. 

Call me a cynic if you like...

House due for demolition burns down? Demolition costs reduced by 100%?

Similar thing happened in South Wales a few years ago.

There was an old grade 2 listed building in Newport, a rich iron master's old Town house, and a massive structure.

A developer bought it and placed a planning application to turn it into flats. There were of course the usual local objections and delays over enquiries etc.

The stable block mysteriously burned down and the developer obtained permission to knock it down.

The demolition firm came in and proceeded to knock the whole lot down before anyone had a chance to complain. They were stopped half way through, but not before they had taken out the whole back of the building.

They told the authorities they had mistaken the instructions from the developer. The building was then condemned and completely demolished.

The developer then built a whole block of brand new flats and made a fortune out of it. The demolition firm were fined but it was alleged still made a tidy profit.

I think your cynicism may not be wide of the mark Philip!

Just read this on the Notice Of  Outline Planning permission for the plot

As I said, no Planning permission should be given now.

No demolition of the house or outbuildings shall be carried out between 15th
November in one year and 15th April in the following year.

REASON: To avoid disturbance or injury to bats which may be hibernating
in buildings in accordance with Policy NE13 of the Lake District National Park
Local Plan and Policy E34 of the adopted Cumbria and Lake District Joint
Structure Plan 2001-2016.

9 No demolition of the house shall be carried out between 15th May and 31st
August in any one year unless an experienced bat surveyor has confirmed
that the building does not support a maternity roost. A report by the bat
consultant of the results of the survey shall be submitted in writing to the
Local Planning Authority prior to the occupation of the building.

REASON: To avoid disturbance or injury to bats which are raising young
in accordance with Policy NE13 of the Lake District National Park Local Plan
and Policy E34 of the adopted Cumbria and Lake District Joint Structure Plan
2001-2016.

10 Prior to the commencement of demolition ten bat boxes shall be erected on
trees on the site, close to the building but at a sufficient distance to avoid
disturbance, and retained at least until the completion of the replacement
building. The design and location of the bat boxes shall be as detailed in
section E1 of the report on the bat survey by Sally Phillips received by the
Local Planning Authority on 25 July 2006.

REASON: To provide alternative roosts for bats using the building for the
duration of the development, prior to the completion of the longer term roosts
within the completed development, in accordance with Policy NE13 of the
Lake District National Park Local Plan and Policy E34 of the adopted Cumbria
and Lake District Joint Structure Plan 2001-2016.

11 Bat roosting features, including a loft space, ridge tile access, under slate
access and access to a south-facing cavity wall, shall be incorporated into the
design of the replacement building. Details of the type, number and location
of these features shall be submitted for approval by the Local Planning
Authority with the application for reserved matters planning consent. The
approved features shall be installed in the building prior to the building being
first occupied and retained in a state accessible by bats thereafter.
REASON: To ensure that the building provides a roosting site for bats in
accordance with Policy NE13 of the Lake District National Park Local Plan
and Policy E34 of the adopted Cumbria and Lake District Joint Structure Plan
2001-2016.

12 Immediately prior to the commencement of demolition works and during
weather conditions when bats are active a suitably experienced and licensed
bat consultant shall put in place measures to ensure that no bats are present
in the building. A licensed bat worker shall be present during the removal of
ridge tiles and slates to ensure the appropriate care of any bats that may be
found.

REASON: To avoid harming any bats which may be roosting in buildings
in accordance with Policy NE13 of the Lake District National Park Local Plan

We need that bloke from Coronation Street to go round and sort it out.

<hangs head in shame at admiting to watching occasionaly>

You can imagine the firemen checking over the scene..

f.man 1

'What do you think ?, Arson, vandalism, insurance job?..'

f.man2

'Umm, I dunno. It just don't seem rite . I smell a Bat...'