Listen Live

Holiday let plan for manor deferred

Sunday, 9 February 2020 10:12

By Daniel Clark, Local Democracy Reporting Service

Canonteign Manor is the former home of King Charles I

A decision over whether an historic 10-bed Manor House on Dartmoor once garrisoned for King Charles I during the English Civil War can be used as a holiday home has been deferred following the applicant deciding to remove the swimming pool from the spatious grounds.

Canonteign Manor in Christow is mentioned in the Domesday Book and became a home for King Charles I and his troops when the war broke out in 1642.

The magnificent property has three floors of accommodation spread over 11,000 square feet and its grounds total 12 acres, including the Manor House, the formal gardens, parkland, orchard and the heated outdoor swimming pool.

It has spectacular views across the River Teign and one of its most attractive features is its spacious dining hall which has a stone floor and intricate wood panelling.

The impressive Grade I listed stately home is owned by Liqun Peng, and he had asked Dartmoor National Park planners for permission to enable the Manor House in Christow to be used as a holiday let.

The application was initially recommended for refusal, saying the intensification of use of the main property, swimming pool and wider garden area would result in a detrimental impact on the amenity of neighbouring residents and the character of this part of the National Park.

There has been one letter of support with the application, saying it would support the maintenance of an historic building and add to the local economy, bringing tourists and creating work in the area.

The letters of objection had been submitted, saying the scheme will have an unacceptable effect on near neighbours, in particular, the use of outdoor space including the swimming pool, hot tub and garden which will adversely affect the quiet enjoyment of neighbouring residents.

Katharine Metcalfe, agent for the applicants, said that they had taken account of the objections and level of feeling locally, and as a result, revised the plans.

The new scheme would see the swimming decommissioned, emptied and covered to take it out of action, has been submitted, while the southernmost section of the garden will be fenced off and won’t be available for holiday makers to use.

She added: “I hope it will mitigate the concerns of the neighbours.”

Planning officers’ recommendation that the Authority undertake a site visit to the Manor to enable committee members to can have a better feeling of the site and to enable further discussions around what the house rules for guests, which would be a legal agreement, would be, was unanimously supported.

The application for the change of use will now be determined at a future meeting of the committee.

More from Local News

Listen Live
On Air Now Through The Evening Playing Genie In A Bottle Christina Aguilera