Plans to build a conference centre on the site of Keswick's former pencil factory will be "sympathetic", Keswick Convention has pledged. 

James Devenish, projects director for Keswick Ministries, told town councillors the charity wanted to build a centre with a 300 to 500-seat auditorium and seminar rooms at the site.

It would be part of a larger project to turn the pencil factory area and neighbouring Rawnsley site into an integrated base for the charity and the annual convention.

Mr Devenish said that as well as the site hosting the town's annual three-week convention and other church events during the year, the conference centre could be used by town organisations and bring in groups from outside.

The move would free up the current convention centre site at Skiddaw Street for housing.

The project is expected to cost £5 million.

About £500,000 has been raised or pledged so far from supporters.

The pencil factory site has been empty since 2008, when production of Derwent pencils moved to Lillyhall, Workington.

It was announced in the summer that Keswick Ministries planned to develop the site.

Concern has grown among some people that the redundant factory building, and the reminder it provides of Keswick's history as the first place in the world to produce pencils, would be lost.

A group of about 90 people got together and called on support from the Twentieth Century Society, which seeks to safeguard post-Victorian buildings.

An application by the society for the building or its facade to be listed was turned down by English Heritage but it could be listed by the Lake District National Park Authority as a non-designated heritage asset.

Mr Devenish warned that Keswick Ministries had to be mindful that building preservation was not one of the charity's objects.

At a town council meeting, councillors and residents gave their views about the project.

Bob Bryden said incorporating the old building into the redevelopment plans could show that the charity valued that heritage.

Dave Miller asked Keswick Ministries to select an architect who could consider integrating the facade of the old factory in the new development.

Joan Weightman said: "I've got a heart for this town and a heart for the crayons but I haven't got a heart for saving a derelict building. What's the point?"

Councillor Duncan Miller said: "You need to be careful when you ask for listing.

"I wouldn't want to hinder the project with a derelict mill.

"Many of the people I have spoken to don't want the factory kept."

Councillor David Burn said: "Ideally I'd like to see the facade kept. If that doesn't prove possible I wouldn't like to see it being a deal breaker."

Coun Paul Titley added: "I don't think anybody actually knows the feeling of the town.

"I think it's an incredible indulgence of us to constrain the development of that site."

He added that housing and employment were key concerns for the town.

He said: "We are on the cusp of a project that could improve the housing needs in the town and that could improve employment."

Councillors voted against supporting the listing of the facade as a non-designated heritage asset.

Following the meeting, Mr Devenish said: "We are sympathetic to the question of heritage and will certainly continue to take it into consideration as we develop our plans."