A £17 million transformation of a Maryport landmark is to be carried out by a housing association, it has been revealed.

Home Group has bought the historic Ewanrigg Hall and plans to convert it into five homes and build a further 125 homes on the surrounding land.

The developer, which traditionally rents out housing and provides shared ownership homes, plans to sell most of the properties on the open market.

It hopes that selling such properties will help it reinvest in affordable housing because certain Government grants it relied upon have now been slashed.

The Maryport scheme is one of its biggest private developments in the county.

A detailed planning application will be submitted soon, with work to start towards the end of the summer if permission is granted.

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

Ewanrigg Hall was ravaged by fire in August 2015, which destroyed the roof and first floor.

Elsa Brailey, head of development and delivery at Home Group, said: “We’re excited to be developing these homes on a site which is so closely

connected to one of the most well-known sailors of all time.

“The story of the Mutiny on the Bounty has survived through generations and is still known the world over.

“These homes will give house- buyers a chance to purchase a property which has a link to one of the most intriguing nautical adventures.”

Home Group has bought the grade two listed building from Kevin Thompson, who also owns Flimby-based Thompson Plant Hire.

Mr Thompson obtained outline planning permission to develop the hall and surrounding land last May.

He said the sale went through last week but declined to confirm how much it had sold for.

He added: “It’s a beautiful building and I’m glad something is being done with it.”

The hall is in a severe state of dilapidation but Home Group said the development would enable much of it to be saved.