A COTTAGE at the entrance to a charity’s visitor attraction garden could become a tearoom, admissions office and exhibition space.

And the plan could put an end to visitors having a look around the garden without paying.

Broomhill Cottage is owned by the Carew Pole Garden Trust, which operates Antony Woodland Garden. The Trust has applied to Cornwall Council planners for permission to carry out works creating a small tearoom, admissions office, gift shop and gallery and interpretation room.

The cottage is at the entrance to the Woodland Garden. The Trust told planners it ‘forms a natural focal point for the charity to generate income from admissions and for a small tea room to enhance the visitor experience.

‘Currently, due to having no focus for admissions, donations and gift aid sign up, most visitors are not paying for entry, preferring to ignore the existing automated payment options.’

The cottage has been let on shorthold tenancies, but the Trust says it now does not meet the new minimum standard for energy performance for a residential property.

‘It is our aim to preserve the nature and character of this building in its setting within the Woodland Garden,’ said the Trust.

‘We are in the process of restoring its garden grounds to the original cottage garden layout and want to use the building to enhance the charity’s education purpose through the use of space within the building for interpretation and heritage displays, which recognise the development of the woodland garden over the years.

‘Broomhill Cottage is an important asset for the charity and the income generated through this change of use will be applied to enhance and develop the woodland garden as a significant part of the grade 2* parkland.’

The planning application can be viewed, and comments made, on Cornwall Council’s planning register at planning.cornwall.gov.uk using the reference number PA18/05006.