Harley Street Surgeon's Lake District Modernisation Plans Meet Fierce Resistance
A prominent Harley Street plastic surgeon has become embroiled in a contentious planning dispute with local residents over his ambitious proposals to transform a historic £1.5 million Lake District cottage into a contemporary family residence. Dr Jag Chana, who operates one of London's leading plastic surgery clinics, sought to create a "forever home" for his family at Brandlehow Cottage on the shores of Derwentwater, but encountered substantial opposition from conservationists and the community.
Historic Cottage and Controversial Proposals
The historic white-washed Brandlehow Cottage, situated near Keswick in the shadow of the towering Catbells fells, dates back as far as the sixteenth century and occupies a prized position along one of Britain's most cherished walking routes. Dr Chana's latest application proposed replacing a single-storey wing with a two-storey steel and glass extension, featuring extensive glazing across the lake-facing elevation. This followed a previously rejected 2023 application to demolish the property entirely and construct a low-carbon home in its place.
Planning authorities recommended refusal of the scheme, warning that the modern design would cause significant damage to the character of the lakeside location, which lies within the designated English Lake District World Heritage Site. Borrowdale Parish Council strongly objected, describing the proposals as "wholly inappropriate for such a sensitive lakeside site" and expressing particular concern about the visual impact of the extensive glass frontage.
The Beloved 'Teddy in the Window' Landmark
A central point of contention in the planning dispute revolves around the future of the cherished local attraction known as 'Teddy in the Window'. This weathered soft toy has resided in the cottage's wooden outbuilding since the 1980s, becoming a beloved landmark for walkers along the Derwentwater shoreline. The teddy attracts cards and messages from around the world, with correspondence arriving from as far away as South America and New Zealand.
The woman who has maintained the shed and teddy for decades described the community's emotional response during the planning process as "heartwarming". She explained that her mother originally placed the teddy in the window thinking its owners might return, and that the tradition of displaying received cards began naturally. Among the objectors, she argued that the proposed glass-fronted design "wouldn't look like the historic cottage that it is", expressing relief when the plans were withdrawn but remaining cautious about future proposals.
Broader Concerns About Lake District Development
Local opposition extended beyond immediate aesthetic concerns to encompass wider issues affecting the Lake District National Park. Eddie Wren, a 28th-generation Lakelander, voiced frustration about newcomers altering properties in ways that disregard local culture and history, stating: "I am a lot more than weary of people moving into the Lake District and then completely ignoring the culture and history of the area when altering their newly acquired homes into something alien to the place they wish to be."
Campaign group Friends of the Lake District supported the parish council's objections, with Lorayne Wall, head of planning and policy at the charity, noting that the application raised "so many concerns". She observed that compared to traditional Lake District architecture, the proposed design would have been "very different" with its "very heavy glazing", adding that "there's nothing really wrong with the building as it currently is".
Withdrawal and Wider Implications
Dr Chana ultimately withdrew the application at the eleventh hour following significant backlash, with planners noting they had received "significant representations both objecting to and supporting the proposals". Wall suggested the withdrawal likely occurred because the applicant "knew it was going to be refused", while highlighting broader challenges facing the national park.
"You can't refuse planning permission because someone is coming up from London," Wall acknowledged, "but it is something we're seeing more. Second homes - which could be permanent dwellings - mean communities are being hollowed out. Heritage is being lost because properties are either not being lived in."
The four-bedroom, two-storey detached property, complete with its own jetty, first came to market in summer 2021 for the first time in approximately thirty years with its £1.5 million asking price. Dr Chana and his wife Kate, who told planners they had been visiting the Lake District for two decades before purchasing the cottage, hoped to create their permanent family home at the location. Dr Chana declined to comment when approached about the withdrawn plans and the ongoing dispute with local residents.
