£10m plan for stately home
A new shooting lodge, tennis courts and a pavilion could be built at a stately home which is undergoing a £10 million refurbishment project.
A family, who wish to remain anonymous, took over Mawley Hall in Cleobury Mortimer, last year.
Now they have submitted major plans for the grounds.
They include three tennis courts and a tennis pavilion and a “prospect tower” which would serve as a shooting lodge.
The plans were submitted to Shropshire Council on Tuesday and will be determined in coming weeks.
A statement submitted to the council says: “Mawley Hall is a privately owned country estate located within the Shropshire countryside.
“At the time of the sale to the applicant in early 2018, the estate was in considerable disrepair, having suffered a lack of basic maintenance and investment over many years.
“The applicant, purchased the estate with the intention of restoring it to the highest conservation standards and to make it a model of how an important historic estate can be managed in the 21st century, for the long-term benefit of the family and the wider, local community.
“As part of the wider proposals for the estate, planning permission is sought in this application for the erection of a prospect tower, tennis courts, a tennis pavilion, landscaping and associated works.”
It adds: “The proposal is to deliver a new prospect tower that will be used as a shooting lodge, along with three tennis courts, a small tennis pavilion and landscaping within the Rookery Complex area of Mawley Hall.
“The prospect tower is intended to be used as a shooting lodge and has been intentionally designed as a classical folly.
“The proposal involves the reconstruction of the historic deer park wall within the root protection areas of two oaks and an ash tree.
“Ideally the reconstruction will take place on existing footings. However, if deeper foundations are found to be required then the new foundation construction will utilise concrete lintels on small concrete pads.
“The proposals represent significant on-going investment in this important estate. The proposals comply with the development plan and other material considerations and therefore should be granted planning permission.”