The final hurdle has been cleared to convert a Maryport landmark into flats and houses.

Planning permission was granted in May to develop Ewanrigg Hall and build more than 120 homes on the surrounding land.

But a legal agreement concerning planning obligations needed to be drawn up between both Allerdale and the county councils and the site’s owner Kevin Thompson.

This document has been agreed this month, clearing the way for the major plans to go ahead.

Mr Thompson, who owns Flimby-based Thompson Plant Hire, wants to partially demolish the grade two listed building and convert it into two houses and four flats. There would be 124 houses built in the grounds and the revenue from the sale of the houses would be used to regenerate the hall and restore it to some of its former glory.

A handful of objections were received from people living nearby, and there was also some support.

One of those was Daniel Bradley, of Ewanrigg Brow, who objected.

“I know full well the problem with traffic on this road first hand, with my car being damaged twice in recent years due to cars trying to squeeze through, leading to stand-offs,” he said.

“The problem is it’s basically one-way traffic and an increase in traffic to this road will only make the problem worse and I believe more dangerous.”

Supporter Eric Teasdale, of Buttermere Road, said at the time the plans were lodged: “I think we need to get some construction into the town, jobs are hard to get.

“It’s in a good place and not causing a great deal of trouble.”

Ewanrigg Hall is a former 18th-century mansion, built as an ancient squires towerhouse and family residence; it will now be converted to a substantial six-bedroom farmhouse and buildings.

It was the home of the Christian family, whose best-known member was Fletcher Christian, who led a mutiny on the ship The Bounty in 1789.

Mr Thompson has previously said the houses would be “sympathetic” as there was a lot of history to preserve.