New homes on a country estate
Wiltshire
The owners of the Savernake Estate, near Marlborough, Wiltshire were seeking creative ways to secure the future of the estate’s heritage assets, comprising the Grade I Listed Tottenham House, Grade II* Listed stable block and Grade I Listed Park and Gardens. The high and rising cost of repairs and ongoing maintenance to conserve valuable heritage assets often threatens the long-term sustainability of these special places, requiring new ways to generate value from land and property assets that can be reinvested in meeting these ongoing costs.
Through a bold and innovative planning strategy Rural Solutions – working with Adam Architects and Balston Agius Landscape Architects, were able to obtain planning permission for four substantial new country homes, and other ancillary development including new cottages, staff and visitor accommodation, equestrian facilities, pool and pavilion, within the listed park and gardens setting.
The new country houses and associated facilities have enabled Tottenham House to find a new owner who is undertaking a full refurbishment of the 100-room, 16th century mansion house (once the home of the Earl of Cardigan), the garden, and ancillary buildings. The work includes the restoration of a stable block to create modern living accommodation.
Objective
To secure the future of the Savernake Estate’s heritage assets, comprising of a Grade I Listed house, Grade II* Listed stable block and, Grade I Listed park and garden through the creative re-use and development of estate land and property assets to attract a buyer who will invest in the restoration and conservation of the heritage assets.
Approach
Identifying the potential for the development of new homes and associated sites within the estate grounds to attract a buyer, while ensuring the heritage setting of the Mansion house remained uncompromised. Rural Solutions produced an innovative planning strategy to secure consent for the proposed development. A robust case, which articulated the benefits, was presented to Historic England and Wiltshire Council to secure their support for the proposals.
“This site is unique in so many respects, its future had to be secured. It was a significant challenge for finding an acceptable route for all in securing the future of these buildings which were at risk. The skill of innovation, the skill of persuasion of other parties, and finally the outcome and the ability of the new owners to take this to fruition.”
Duncan Hartley
Outcome
We achieved planning consents for development proposals which would secure the future of Tottenham House and estate. Within months of doing so, those permissions attracted a purchaser for the estate and the new owner is investing significant funds into the restoration of the heritage assets. One of the significant attractions for the buyer was the planning consent achieved by Rural Solutions for the four new country homes within the estate.
Give us a call on 01756 797501 or email info@ruralsolutions.co.uk
We'd be delighted to have a chat.
Reinstatement of a country house
An innovative new country house created from the ruins of a country manor with significant heritage assets restored.
We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website. You can find out more about which cookies we are using on our cookie policy.