A more than 300-year-old Nottinghamshire hall in 'disrepair' is set for a new lease of life. Ollerton Hall on Main Street, Ollerton has been empty for many years, but would be turned into eight apartments, if plans are approved at Newark & Sherwood District Council's planning committee on April 20.
The hall, a Grade II* listed building built in 1700, has recently come back into the ownership of the council following years of uncertainty and a lack of progress on site by the previous owner. The council has a new land deal with applicant Severns Developments, with the building offered on a lease until the project is "satisfactorily complete" and can be sold.
Planning permission was granted in 1990 to convert the building to a health care facility and construct a single storey extension, which was built in the wrong place. A previous scheme for a more intensive conversion to 25 residential units by the previous owner was refused and dismissed on appeal 10 years ago.
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Historical figure Sir Thomas Markham settled at Ollerton in the latter part of the 16th century and his family is credited with the original hall. Sir Markham was a Member of the House of Commons for Ollerton and for a period served as part of Queen Elizabeth I's household.
The proposal involves replacement windows and glazing patterns, with the council stating the property was currently in disrepair. A planning committee report explained that although some improvements will be made, the building will be "conserved, repaired and reinstated in a sympathetic manner".
A four bay garage and separate store building were initially proposed as part of the scheme, but the garage building was removed following concerns. A total of 22 car parking spaces are proposed alongside the northern boundary and to the northwest.
A Newark & Sherwood District Council planning officer, advising councillors to approve the plan, said: "The principle of converting the hall to new residential use is considered acceptable in terms of its locational requirements and in terms of finding an appropriate new use for this high grade listed building.
"The impacts upon existing residents' amenity can be made acceptable with conditions and no highway safety harm has been identified. Following extensive negotiations, overall it is considered that the development to the hall would be harmonious and bring about some improvements to the façade.
"Whilst the presence of a new outbuilding would adversely affect the setting of the hall, this would be minimal and its impact has been diminished through reducing its size and scale." Listed building consent has also been recommended for approval at the same April 20 planning committee.
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