Humshaugh: Stately home to become hotel

18th century Walwick Hall, a Grade II listed building formerly owned by businessman Graham Wylie, will be converted into a 10-bedroomed hotel.

The application by owner Rachel Batson has been given the green light by Northumberland County Council planners despite objections from its own conservation officer, Sharon Kelly.

She said the proposals represented “substantial harm” to the significance and setting of the listed building, resulting in a negative impact on the historic fabric and special character of the listed building.

“We consider that great weight ought to be given to the heritage assets conservation and that the substantial harm caused by the proposals is not outweighed by any necessary or identifiable public benefits,” she said.

However, in his submission to the council, Hexham architect Kevin Doonan argued that the proposals would provide public benefit, securing the conservation of the hall, its setting and the garden structures.

He said: “The works will secure the optimum viable use of the hall in support of its long term conservation, sustaining and enhancing the heritage asset.

“The hall will be accessible to the public, as guests of the hotel, open to the general public to use the bar and restaurant, walkers passing by for lunches and afternoon teas and open access to the gardens.”

He argued the proposals would support local and regional tourism, the local economy and the use of local services and facilities, as well as providing local employment.

He went on: “This will be an independent high quality hotel, completed to the highest standard with significant investment required to carefully restore the building and its historic features.”

He said the inclusion of the swimming pool was expected in accommodation of this quality adding: “There is a lack of high quality accommodation in the North-East region with a swimming pool. There is only one comparable boutique hotel, showing a clear gap in the market for a new boutique hotel with a swimming pool.

“The swimming pool will enable higher rates to be charged which is critical to the financial viability of the entire project to ensure the investment is economically sustainable.”

He said while use of the swimming pool would initially be confined to hotel guests, in the long term it would also be available for use by the guests staying at Chesters Stud (subject to planning consent) and Butlers Cottage, which were also owned by the applicant.

She also intended to make the pool and gym facilities available to private members which would supplement income and diversify the business, ensuring it is economically sustainable.

Mr Doonan added: “Without the swimming pool the proposals for the hall are in jeopardy and may be abandoned.

“The proposals to change the use of the building from a private dwelling to a small boutique hotel will ensure the building is brought back in to use and the historic fabric is repaired and maintained in the future.”

Some of the hotel’s 10 bedrooms would be created from an unused outbuilding, while the swimming pool would be built in the garden which was currently overgrown and in poor condition.

The existing lodge at Walwick would continue to be used as a private dwelling by Mrs Batson, who would also manage the hotel.

The appearance of the hall would be improved through the repairs undertaken, and landscaping works would enhance the setting of the listed building, while the swimming pool was designed to appear as a pavilion within the walled garden.

The existing access to the site would be retained and improved through the widening of the driveway, repositioning of the boundary wall and resurfacing.

The driveway would be widened to a width of 4m to enable a lorry, oil tanker or fire engine easy access to the site.

Granting consent for the scheme under delegated powers, planning officer Jenny Green decided there were clear economic and public benefits that would outweigh any limited harm to the listed building.