Historic Warks building will not be turned into apartments

[dutchman]

A Grade II listed Kenilworth building will not be turned into apartments as its owners had planned because they have been refused permission.



The Wantage in Castle Hill is rich in history, but now, more than 100 years since it was built, its owner Chris Edwards and his architect Richard Free from Free Associates in Worcester, wanted to restore the building by turning it into four apartments.

Although they agreed this would benefit the building, a number of objections from the public, English Heritage and Kenilworth Town Council were submitted to Warwick District Council’s planning committee and the planning application was refused.

In its objection, the town council said: “The property is a significant listed building situated in the conservation area adjacent to the important monument of Kenilworth Castle and Abbey Fields, which contain the remains of Kenilworth Abbey.

“The basic scheme has not been justified and should be refused as detrimental to the significance of the heritage asset in accordance with the comments made by English Heritage. Further, it fronts on to Castle Hill and is adjacent to two road junctions and its vehicular access, onto this already congested and dangerous road would not allow for the additional traffic which would be generated by four apartments.

“Members would further draw the committee’s attention to the fact that they believe that part of the garden is within the area of Kenilworth Abbey.”

The Wantage was built by architects Buckland and Farmer in 1901. Herbert Tudor Buckland was a British architect best known for his seminal arts and crafts houses.

The house was lived in by the Dennison family until it was sold in 1937.