Copsewood Grange joins buildings 'at risk'

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Copsewood Grange could be turned into apartments



A former Victorian manor house in Coventry that has been listed as "at risk" could be turned into flats.

Copsewood Grange, built in 1872, has fallen into disrepair and there has been concern around its future.

Developers B L Goodman want to apply for planning permission to turn it into 15 luxury apartments.

Chairman of the Coventry Society Keith Draper said: "It's an idea we endorse wholeheartedly, we've been campaigning for its posterity for several years."

'Important asset'

Max Camplin from B L Goodman said if plans were approved, the grange, or manor house, would be divided into flats while the lodge in the grounds would be turned into a private house.

He said: "Plans are in the very early stage but it's a very large building so it makes more sense to split it up, the sale of those apartments will help pay for its restoration - we're talking in the millions."

Last year Save Britain's Heritage, a campaign group for historic buildings, added the property to its list of buildings at risk.

Mr Draper said: "As far as we're concerned the mansion and its grounds are an important asset to Coventry and of course we welcome this new opportunity to have the developers restore it."

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Demolition fears raised over historic Coventry buildings

Fears two historic Coventry buildings could be demolished have prompted council officials to step in.

Planning bosses have slapped a protective article four order on neglected 19th century Binley manor house Copsewood Grange and sister building Copsewood Lodge.

The unusual step prevents the owners of the buildings from demolishing them after the council believed them to be at risk.

Current planning permission, granted in 2012, allowed developers BL Goodman to build houses in the surrounding area and to convert the Grange into 17 luxury apartments, while the lodge would become a three-bed home.

The developers would now need the council’s permission to demolish either building. They have until May 30 to appeal the order which will become permanent if the developer chooses not to object.

Jim Newton, acting head of planning at Coventry City Council, said: “We have taken this relatively unusual step because we believe the buildings to be at risk of demolition.

“We have worked with the developers over many years and have always been clear that we require the Grange and Lodge buildings to remain. We believe that Copsewood Grange and the nearby Lodge, form an important heritage asset to the area and we know they are highly valued by local people.

“Built in the 1870s, the two buildings are fine examples of gothic revival architecture.”

The campaign to preserve the buildings, which have been badly neglected and targeted by vandals and arsonists repeatedly, was spearheaded by the Coventry Society.

Its chair Keith Draper said: “We are happy that the council is making sure that Copsewood Grange is restored and reused.

“Part of the original deal was that the developers would put £2million into restoring the building and developing it into a series of apartments.

“We thought the deal was signed and sealed. We were rather alarmed when we saw the article four.

“We will continue following it through as a society to make sure it comes to fruition.

“We are anxious for the current owners get on with the job before it starts to crumble even more.

“Urgency is of the essence in view of the years that have passed.”

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Fears vandalised historic buildings could soon be "ruined beyond repair"



Developers have been urged to get on with the restoration of two Victorian buildings before they are “ruined beyond repair”.

Coventry Society has been leading a campaign to preserve 19th century Binley manor house Copsewood Grange and sister building Copsewood Lodge.

Vandals recently knocked down walls at the Lodge and both buildings have previously been damaged by arsonists.



Planning permission, granted in 2012, allowed housing to be built in the surrounding area and would have allowed the lodge to become a three-bedroom home and the Grange to be converted into 17 luxury apartments. But that permission expired in July.

Last summer, Coventry City Council planning bosses slapped a protective article four order on the neglected buildings. The unusual step prevented the owners of the buildings from demolishing them after the council believed them to be at risk.

Keith Draper, chairman of Coventry Society, has now called on developers Morris Homes to take urgent action.

He said: “Some three years ago the Coventry Society was party to a council plan that would see land surrounding the Victorian Copsewood Grange and its Lodge used for housing rather than industrial units. In return the developer agreed to restore both historic properties.

"It should have been a win-win situation that would see New Century Park ‘anchored’ by distinguished buildings setting the development apart from hundreds of others.

“When the development passed to Morris Homes we believed this firm of national repute would get on with the restoration.

“The Coventry Society urges Morris Homes to honour the agreement now, before both properties are finally ruined beyond repair.”

A spokesman for Morris Homes said: “We have recently appointed consultants to help us develop plans for Copsewood Lodge, in line with planning requirements.

“Since owning the site we have implemented measures to secure the building and will continue to work with the council and local authorities to ensure this heritage building is protected until development plans are agreed.”

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Incredible aerial photo shows progress of restoration work at historic Coventry house



The aerial photo captures the current state of the historic Copsewood Grange, in Binley Road, which is undergoing restoration work.

Almost exactly a year ago, the Coventry Society, which campaigns to protect the city’s heritage raised concern over the situation at the site, stating that it still believed the building to be at risk.

Now, this new image appears to offer new hope for the future of the building.

The history of the grange dates back to 1872 when it was built by ribbon manufacturer James Hart and a number of notable people have owned the building since then.

A factory and housing for employees of the General Electrical Company was built on land surrounding the grange but once that was closed and demolished, council policy led to the lodge and the grange being designated for industrial use, which no one took on, leading to the buildings falling into disrepair.

Planning permission to build 329 homes in the area surrounding Copsewood Grange and Copsewood Lodge was granted in 2012 and properties are now being sold on ‘The Spires’ development.

The plans also allowed the lodge to be transformed into a three-bedroom home and the grange was set to be converted into 17 luxury apartments.

In January 2016, the Coventry Society said that work had begun to build the homes but the restoration work on the grange and the lodge, which are both listed buildings had not yet begun.

Morris Homes bought the site in 2015 and have said that they would continue to work to ensure the heritage building is protected until development plans are agreed.

There may still be a long way to go in restoring the buildings but it is a positive change after they were left to deteriorate and was attacked by vandals and arsonists.

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Historic Coventry building - featured in Italian Job - converted into luxury flats after campaign



ONE of Coventry’s ‘most iconic’ Victorian buildings – which featured in the legendary Italian Job film – has been restored after years of campaigning.

Housebuilder Morris Homes has regenerated Copsewood Grange, on Allard Way, to its former glory.

Conservation group The Coventry Society began campaigning to save it from vandalism and disrepair several years ago.

Work began on restoring Copsewood Grange – once a club house for the adjacent golf course – in April 2016.

The developer has now transformed it into a range of luxury two bedroom apartments – attempting to retain its original style.

Morris Homes’ regional managing director, Dominic Harman, was joined by Coventry Society member Les Fawcett to lay the final roof tile.

It is part of a wider Coventry Society campaign to save historic buildings on former industrial land – including the smaller Copsewood Lodge on the same site.

Mr Fawcett said: “The society had campaigned for some years to save the historic buildings that had once been zoned for industrial development by the city council, neglected or vandalised.

“We were delighted to see that Morris Homes had grasped the nettle and were restoring the buildings to their former glory.”

Aside from having housed students and workers, the building boasts historic connections to the film industry.

A scene from The Italian Job, starring Michael Caine, was filmed in the grounds of the site in 1968.

The three minis can be seen driving through sewer pipes, which were assumed to be in Turin, but were in fact part of the Grange’s golf club.

Mr Harman said: “When we undertook the challenging restoration of Copsewood Grange, we were very careful to ensure that its rich heritage and all of the buildings character and detail were protected.

“We’re delighted to be able to unveil our progress in bringing this important historic building back to life.

“Our topping out ceremony marks the final stages for completion of the building, we appreciate all the help we have had from Coventry City Council and we look forward to welcoming our first residents to their new home next month.”