Historic house set to be demolished despite opposition

A HOUSE in Shiplake where the poet Alfred, Lord Tennyson spent the night begire his wedding is to be demolished and rebuilt.

Jamie Waller was granted permission to extend and remodel the former listed property in Church Lane last year.

Now he plans to demolish and rebuild to the same specification because it would be cheaper to do so. The house is said to be in need of “extensive repairs and refurbishment” and poorly insulated.

Mr Waller’s new application to South Oxfordshire District Council, the planning authority, also includes the construction of two new outbuildings and the creation of a courtyard for parking.

He also wants to reopen an entrance to the site from Church Lane.

A design statement by architects Des Ewing says: “The initial proposal was to remodel the existing building, completely refurbish it and add a considerable extension to create an updated home suitable for modern living.

“However, on closer inspection, it was evident that the quality of the existing house is actually quite poor and that a great deal of demolition work would be required to facilitate any future development of the site. There are many shortcomings of the existing house to take into consideration, for example, the very low floor to ceiling height on all floors which cannot be easily fixed.

“The cost of repairing and upgrading to modern day standards would be substantial and possibly exceed the cost of demolition and rebuilding.”

Rebecca Barnett, heritage officer at the district council, said she could not support the application.

She said: “While it was rejected for Grade II listing, formerly a Grade III listed asset, it does not mean that it is without significance or merit both on its own terms and in terms of its contribution to the setting of Grade II and Grade II* listed heritage assets.

“The building has historical and evidential interest in its fabric and plan-form from the 17th century to the early 20th century with historical associations to Tennyson and the neighbouring Church of St Peter and St Paul.

“The proposed demolition would cause substantial harm to the non-designated heritage asset.”

Members of the district council’s planning committee approved the application. Marc Pullen, the council’s planning and development officer, said: “What is currently proposed would involve the replacement dwelling looking the exact same as the already approved extensions and alteration scheme that was approved last year.

“The benefits of the proposal would enable the property to be more energy efficient and would secure biodiversity net gain across the site.

“Prior approval has been granted to demolish the dwelling and ancillary structures in question. Officers do not consider the loss of the building and its associated history to form a strong material consideration in determining the outcome of this application.

“Shiplake Parish Council has removed its objection to the loss of the building, citing the prior approval application.”

Mr Pullen said conditions of planning permission would ensure trees were protected.

Chris Penrose, who chairs Shiplake Parish Council, told the committee he was “disappointed”.

He said: “There is a lot of opposition in the village to this being demolished.

“However, we acknowledge and understand that the demolition has been approved and that rather removes our wiggle room. We would request that officers do look at conditions, one of which is tree protection. This is a site with cedars of Lebanon and a number of protected trees and we would request that these are very carefully monitored.”

Mr Waller’s planning agent, Adrian Gould, of JPPC, said replacing the building was the best option.

He said: “The design of the house is identical to what was approved last July. Consequently, its relationship with the Grade II St Peter and Paul’s Church and other listed buildings nearby would be unchanged.

“Although it is a new-build scheme, the proposal will also seek to utilise salvageable materials from the existing house and outbuildings, rainwater goods, tiles, floorboards etc. Masonry and inert material would also be utilised on site as hardcore for the new buildings and surfaced areas.

“Although the building has been identified as having local heritage interest, principally because Tennyson is said to have been a guest at the property prior to his marriage across the road in 1850, it is relevant to note that the house he would have known then bears little or no resemblance to how it appears today. The house was substantially extended and remodelled internally and externally in 1905 and was subject to further extensions and alterations in the Sixties.”