Plans for the new-look headquarters for for Eden District Council in Penrith have gained approval at the third attempt.

Eden Council's vision is to transform the Voreda House building on Portland Place into the UK’s first net-zero-carbon retrofit office.

The authority’s planning committee had refused to grant approval for the major upgrade of the building in March, however, the proposals were approved six votes to five at a committee meeting this week.

The plans will see it become the first building of its kind in the country, as the UK’s first net-zero-carbon retrofit office. The design plans also represent a major upgrade for the site, combining energy saving features with a new look for the building.

Planned additions like solar panels will also enable the Council to generate its own renewable energy.

Leader of Eden District Council, Councillor Virginia Taylor, said: “The Council is transforming Voreda House into a state of the art, zero carbon, public service hub, designed to secure the delivery of quality services to customers whatever the configuration of local government may be in the future.

“Voreda House realises the Council’s long-standing ambition for an efficient and fully accessible single site which will provide convenient access to services, both for residents and businesses from Penrith and from the 70+ parishes of the wider Eden area.”

As well as providing greater value for money compared to the Council’s current offices, the Voreda House project aims to better support flexible and modern ways of working and help the Council to get closer to its ambitious zero-carbon goals, plans reveal.

The Council believe the move to the building stands to better protect the provision of services to residents of Eden and preserve local jobs.

Rod Hughes, Director of 2030 Architects Ltd, said: "Eden District Council is to be commended for showing what can be done with commitment and purpose.

"It is a milestone in potentially becoming the first UK Passivhaus Commercial retrofit, and showing that Net Zero Carbon retrofit is viable.

"We want to design buildings which make a positive contribution to reducing climate change, which are also great places and work."