Plans by Lord Bute Hotel in Highcliffe to convert lodge to private home ‘welcomed in part’ by BCP Council planners

A Highcliffe hotel has had mixed results in wanting to turn one of its buildings into a private home.

Two applications were made to BCP Council planners concerning Highcliffe Castle’s former East Lodge, which now forms part of the Lord Bute Hotel and Restaurant on Lymington Road.

One of which was to turn the lodge, formally used as part of the commercial kitchen linked to the restaurant, into a home. The other was listed building consent in order to carry out the work.

Listed building consent was granted, but planners rejected the home plan.

Historically, the paired east and west lodges formed residential entrances to Highcliffe Castle estate, and both are Grade II listed buildings, with the West Lodge still in residential use. The lodges were sold in the 1950s when the estate was also sold and redeveloped for residential development.

The listed building consent is for internal and external alterations to East Lodge to change the use of part of the commercial restaurant kitchen and store to a dwelling.

But in granting approval, the planners stressed: “This consent only authorises works to the listed building. The material change of use of the part of the building to residential and any associated exterior work to the building and any associated development requires planning permission.”

Shore Architecture’s rejected application was to change the use of the site area into a two-bedroom house “as per its original intended use”, to repair and replace any elements of the building and restore it in line with the listed building status.

But there were issues over protection of trees with preservation orders on the boundary, and relocation of bin and cycle storage.

BCP’s conservation and heritage officer said: “Whilst the principle of returning to a residential use is welcomed, greater consideration needs to be given as to how the work will be executed and information supplied, along with amendments made to minimise harm to the interior and ensure a more sympathetic conversion.”