Carter Jonas secures permission for Grade I home of famous designer to become educational centre

Property consultancy, Carter Jonas has secured planning permission on behalf of the Society of Antiquaries of London for a new on-site education centre at Kelmscott Manor.

This is said to coincide with the conservation and refurbishment of the West Oxfordshire estate’s Grade I listed heritage buildings.

Kelmscott Manor is a limestone manor house that dates from 1570 in the Cotswolds village of Kelmscott. It was built by local farmer Thomas Turner and remained in the family for generations, but is known as the country home of writer and designer, William Morris.

Carter Jonas’ planning and development team worked closely with experts in the consultancy’s rural practice to vary a restrictive covenant in favour of Kelmscott Manor.

They also negotiated with a neighbouring landowner to rent a small area of land for a new car park, which involved the surrender of a long-term lease from the agricultural tenant, a change of use and settling terms for a new long-term lease direct with the landowner.

The new 969 sq ft education centre will be built on the south side of the farmyard with construction due to start in Q2 2019.

Conservation repairs will begin in Q2 2020 to the listed buildings of Kelmscott Manor including the house itself, the Stable Barn that houses the cafe and the Granary Building, which contains the visitor’s shop.

Nicky Brock, partner at Carter Jonas, concluded: “It is a privilege to work on an architectural treasure with such a strong design heritage.

“The planning permission means that important refurbishment works can be undertaken to conserve the collection of Grade I listed building that make up the estate, whilst looking to the future with the addition of the new education centre.

“This will ensure that visitors can not only enjoy the house and its grounds, but learn more about the legacy of Kelmscott Manor and its most famous resident, William Morris.

“The project is a good example of how we can bring together specialists across our core divisions to create a bespoke solution for our clients.”