Homes hope for historic hall
A scheme to renovate Ollerton Hall and transform the grand but derelict building into 25 homes has been put forward.
The plans have been submitted by Pullan Homes, which owns the site. The company started work to convert it into a nursing home in 2007 but planning problems and disputes with the council meant it never materialised.
The latest plans propose creating nine two-bedroom apartments in the hall, and three one-bed, 12 two-bed and one three-bed bungalows using existing extensions.
It also includes provision for 29 parking spaces, an access road, pedestrian footpaths, two bin stores and landscaping.
The application, submitted to Newark and Sherwood District Council, said: “The change from residential nursing home to residential dwellings is a market lead with the aim to achieve a deliverable scheme within a short period of time.
“There is a clear demand for small residential dwellings, and the scheme is for primarily families, retirement homes, and the strong buy-to-let market.
“The scheme is deliverable and will achieve the need to bring the hall back into beneficial use after 40 to 50 years.”
The Sue Ryder Foundation initially drew up plans for a nursing home in 1990. After the project failed to materialise, the district council bought the hall and sold it to Pullan in 2004 for £650,000.
But its ownership has been beset by problems. The council issued an order to stop work on the site amid concerns it did not have the correct planning permission.
The company was granted new permission in 2009 but the work was not completed before its January deadline.
As a result, the council launched an investigation into the problems and started buy-back proceedings to take the property back into its ownership. It is thought it could buy the site back for just a third of what it sold it for.
Ollerton town councillor Mr Stan Crawford thought the application could be a last-ditch attempt to avert the buy-back.
“We have just been through a lengthy process for housing allocation and this was not put forward as part of that,” he said.
Mr Kevin Pullan, owner of Pullan Homes, said there would not be any benefit in the site returning to council ownership.
“It was in council hands for more than 40 years so they have to take some responsibility for its deterioration,” he said.
“We pulled out because of a dispute with the council and this is a chance to have another go. If it goes back into council hands they will not have the money to develop it and it will go back into decline.
“We spent a lot of money improving the structure and if we get permission, it will get built. We have the money and vision to deliver the scheme.”
A council spokesman said the application would be considered in due course, but the council would continue the buy-back proceedings in the meantime because Mr Pullan had not met the deadline for the completion of the previous contract.
