WORK has been halted on holiday lodges being built in the garden of a historic Scottish property without planning permission.
A retrospective planning application has now been lodged with East Ayrshire Council after the development at Mansfield House, in Catrine, was halted around 10 days before completion.
Ayrshire Property Options Ltd is seeking permission to use part of the garden for three professionally managed short-term holiday lodges, together with pergolas, an outdoor kitchen, communal fire pit, landscaping and associated works.
The development lies within the Catrine Conservation Area, where proposals are subject to stricter planning policies aimed at protecting the area’s character and appearance.
Applicant Marney Gardner acknowledged construction began before planning permission had been granted.
In the retrospective application, she stated: “The works were commenced to support the ongoing use of the property and improve the quality of accommodation.”
The accompanying planning statement says East Ayrshire Council requested work stop approximately 10 days before completion and adds: “The lodges have not been completed, have not been occupied and have not been brought into operational use.”
According to the application, the main structures had largely been built but windows, doors, kitchens, bathrooms, internal finishes, landscaping, and other works remain incomplete.
Mansfield House is described as a substantial Georgian residence which, together with neighbouring Mansfield Hall, forms an important group of historic buildings within the village.
The applicant says the development is intended to provide an income to help safeguard the future of the property.
The supporting statement says the proposal has been “designed to establish a modest, professionally managed tourism business capable of generating income to support the continued maintenance, repair and stewardship of Mansfield House.”
It adds: “The vision for Mansfield has never been simply to create visitor accommodation. The wider objective has always been to secure the long-term future of an important historic property through careful stewardship, sensitive restoration and sustainable use.”
Rather than altering the historic house, the accommodation has been located within its enclosed rear garden. The three lodges were individually built on site rather than installed as prefabricated cabins.
The applicant says the roof design was changed during construction from pitched roofs to lower mono-pitch roofs to reduce their visibility from neighbouring properties, adding that “a fundamental design objective throughout the project has been to minimise the visual impact of the development.”
The statement argues the house, mature trees, boundary walls and changes in ground level mean the lodges are not visible from the public road and have only limited visibility from neighbouring properties.
The development would accommodate a maximum of eight additional guests. Communal facilities, including an outdoor kitchen, seating areas and fire pit, have been positioned on lower terraces close to Mansfield House, with the applicant arguing the main building will help shield neighbouring properties from noise.
The statement says: “The proposal is intended to provide a peaceful, high-quality visitor experience. It is not intended to operate as a party venue or high-intensity commercial leisure use.”
One lodge has been designed to improve accessibility for guests with reduced mobility, while existing access and parking arrangements would continue to be used, with no new vehicle entrance proposed.
The application also proposes additional native planting and says new drainage infrastructure has been installed to tackle long-standing waterlogging problems within the garden.
The applicant concludes: “Ultimately, this proposal is about stewardship rather than expansion.”
It adds the development seeks to ensure Mansfield House remains “a well-maintained, occupied and economically sustainable historic property capable of being cared for over future generations.”
The retrospective planning application is being considered by East Ayrshire Council.
