Creating a sustainable use for this historic building
Restoring Woburn House
Proposals
The plans will create a residential development comprising a mix of house types including apartments, semi-detached and detached houses, bungalows and townhouses.
The proposals include the renovation and conversion of Woburn House into 8 high quality apartments. The surrounding outbuildings on the grounds would be demolished and landscape features, including the walled garden, would be restored.
To supplement these restoration works, the plans propose enabling development to create new homes in a mix of semi-detached and detached houses, bungalows and townhouses. The development of these new homes will support the long-term commercial viability of the Woburn House restoration. The proposed housing development would comprise a range of c.190 high-quality homes, designed to fit in well with this important heritage site in Millisle.
Site masterplan layout (click to enlarge)
Enabling Development
It is proposed that Woburn House is restored through an enabling development programme which is established in planning policy. ‘Enabling development’ is a development proposal that is contrary to established planning policy and in its own right would not be permitted. It applies in this instance as the site lies outside of the settlement limit. Policy does permit proposals that will secure the long term future of a significant place, such as Woburn House in this case. Informing the planning application will be a range of technical reports, including a conservation plan, transport information & ecological surveys. The process will involve close co-operation between the project team and DFC’s Historic Environment Division to ensure the restoration is carried out sensitively.
Site location (click to enlarge)