Somerley Estate wants to convert old Ellingham House stables into farm shop

FORMER stables will be converted into a farm shop if new plans are approved.

A planning application has been lodged with New Forest District Council for listed building consent to transform the former Ellingham House stables into a complex of retail, café and farm shop with parking for 27 cars and 10 cycle spaces.

The courtyard buildings are just south of St Mary’s Church, across the road from Ibsley and Blashford Lakes.

In a survey for the applicant, Peach Ecology found the old buildings have been used by bats. It twice detected day roosting by a greater horseshoe bat, and two soprano pipistrelle were also recorded roosting once.

Peach said a European protected species licence will be required to proceed with the proposals if planning permission is granted. A new roosting area would be provided and the crevice retained where the pipistrelles were recorded .

Under the plans for the farm shop complex, the stables would be divided into three, with the northern wing a 117sqm retail unit, the 91.5sqm central section a café opening up to the courtyard in good weather with 10 tables, and the 127sqm southern section a farm shop for a butcher and cold store.

Somerley Estate is in discussion with a local butcher to take on the tenancy of the farm shop and café.