South Downs Property by Life Magazines

Issue 8

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Your local specialist property publication

Residential sales, lettings, developments & commercial proper ties in the South Downs National Park

Summer

specials

Pick of the properties

Gainsborough

record

South Downs ProperTY

Resid e nt i a l s a l e s, lettings, developments & co m m e rc i a l p ro p e r t i e s i n t h e S o u t h D o w n s N at i o nal Park

South Downs Property is perfect for Advertising ISSUE 7

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YOUR LOCA L SPEC IALIS T PROP ERTY

• Published 26 times a year (fortnightly)

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PUBL ICATI ON

al sales, l ettings, d evelopm

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ROPERTY

al propert ies in the South Dow ns Nation al Park

specials

businesses keen to market their portfolio and services to a discerning and targeted readership • Timed to coincide with the opening of the SDNP

ALTON

Pick of the properties

LONDON Haslemere

New Alresford

Selborne Liphook

WINCHESTER

West Tisted

HAMPSHIRE

Northchapel

Fernhurst Liss

Twyford

SURREY

Wisborough Green

MIDHURST Meonstoke

Upham

Gainsboroug

Milland

PETERSFIELD

record

West Meon Petworth Pulborough

South Harting

Duncton A3

Ditchling East Dean

Bury

LEWES

WEST SUSSEX

Lavant Arundel

PORTSMOUTH

Storrington

Findon BRIGHTON

EAST SUSSEX

CHICHESTER

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Newhaven EASTBOURNE

To find out more about advertising in this magazine please contact info@southdowns-property.co.uk or call 01730 235669

Summary South Downs Property serves your regional community in the National Park, so please do get involved and benefit from these great advertising opportunities.

le SDNP Factfi 00

108,0 Population: n miles betwee Extent: 100 Beachy Head d an r te es Winch

Y o u r l o c a l s p e c i a l i s t p r o p e r ty publ i cat i o n Life Magazines, The Media Barn, Kings Court, St Peter’s Road, Petersfield, GU32 3HX t: 01730 235669 f: 01730 231676 e: info@southdowns-property.co.uk www.lifemags.co.uk

bring your property to life

WELCOME

Comment Records smashed

There is very little sign that the recession is receding, although a good house at the right price in the South Downs should always sell. At least there are some positive shafts of light from June property market statistics published by Halifax in its House Property Index, with more buyers registering with agents. So, in the absence of movement in the property market, let’s celebrate the record-breaking sale of old master paintings at Christie’s London in early July. A painting by George Stubbs sold for £22 million and the Cowdray Gainsborough went for more than £6.5 million – both world records for the individual artist’s work sold at auction. And an important planning decision has just been made by the South Downs National Park Authority in squashing a planning consent given by Chichester District Council for a development at the former Edward VII Hospital. ISSUE 7

Better by desig n Premier Property designs, builds and finishes top quality home improvements. These include: • Complete renovations • Individual kitchens • Bathrooms • All types of building work

Before

Founded 10 years ago, the Hampshire company continues to be run by David and Suzanne Harding and dedicated to its many happy clients.

FREE

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South Downs PROPERTY (value £3.00)

YOUR LOCAL SPECIALIST PROPERTY PUBLICATION

Residential sales, lettings, developments & commercial proper ties in the South Downs National Park

Summer

specials

Nick Keith Editor 01730 235 668

David Harding says: “The many testimonials we have received show how much we succeed in our goals. We listen to clients to discover what they want and need.”

After

Pick of the properties

Gainsborough

record

Cover: Shows the winning photo by Chris Mole, from Danehill, East Sussex, who won a competition run by South Downs National Park Authority with this photograph of the Cuckmere Valley earlier this year. Chris said, “I took the photograph of the path at Cuckmere Valley last September. It’s a great location and the light that day made it a perfect photo opportunity.”

Editor / Publisher

Nick Keith nick.keith@lifemags.co.uk

Advertising Manager

Jackie Barnett jackie.barnett@lifemags.co.uk

Advertising Support

Florence Howes florence.howes@lifemags.co.uk

Graphic Design

Neil Pafford, Dan Vear, Graham Martin

Photography

Michel Focard

Designed and produced by

Navigate Design, www.navigate-design.com

Managing Director

Gareth Gammon gareth.gammon@lifemags.co.uk

al on iti ati In lt E su E on C FR gn i es D

nick.keith@lifemags.co.uk

Life Magazines Limited Petersfield Office: The Media Barn, Kings Court St Peter’s Road, Petersfield GU32 3HX Tel: 01730 235669 www.lifemags.co.uk email: info@lifemags.co.uk

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Disclaimer South Downs Property is published by Life Magazines Ltd. The views or facts expressed in the content of the magazine editorial or advertising are not necessarily those of the editor or Life Magazines Ltd nor do they accept responsibility for any errors, inaccuracies or omissions or any legal implications arising thereof. Life Magazines Ltd retains © copyright over the content. Any material submitted to the publishers is done so at the sender’s risk and may or may not be returned, and may be subject to editing without notice prior to publication. Life Magazines Ltd does not necessarily endorse any of the businesses or services featured in this magazine.

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P r ope rt y M a r k et

specials

Summer

This issue of South Downs Property views some houses in the area which offer something extra, in the way of equestrian facilities, a tennis court, a swimming pool, the views or simply the unusual In a market which is still uncertain, signs of stronger activity in June and more buyers registering with agents provide some signs of encouragement. The local estate agents certainly have some interesting properties on offer for potential purchasers. Edward Cunningham, a partner in Knight Frank’s country house department, says: “The market is still price sensitive, often with buyers’ expectations up against vendors’ values; buyers are expecting to get something off a house, while vendors want to get full value. In the end it is down to commitment on both sides.” Knight Frank currently lists three houses in the South Downs which offer something extra: Harcombe House, Woodcote, and Reeds Farm.

Harcombe House, with Knight Frank

The asking price for Harcombe House, near Alresford, has reduced to £10 million (from £12 million). This is a beautifully restored period country house, which has undergone a major uplift.  There are eight bedrooms and six bathrooms, three of which are en suite, as well as a one bedroom guest annexe. Features include under-floor heating, air conditioning, multi-camera security and a temperature controlled wine cellar, with tasting area.  The house stands in more than 16 acres with a pair of two bedroom cottages about 50 yards from the entrance drive; an 2

Home Farm, with Peter Hughes

outdoor and indoor pool (with steam room and sauna); a oneacre lake and fishing; a rose garden, an orchard and productive kitchen garden; and grass and hard tennis courts. Woodcote Manor, with a guide price of £7.75 million, is a grade II listed manor house in 101 acres of rolling Hampshire parkland at Bramdean near Alresford. Here you will find a lot of exceptional features from the long tree-lined drive and grand entrance hall to the six bedrooms and two flats. Built originally in the 17th century the house has evolved and expanded over the years. In the grounds there is a three-bedroom cottage, a walled garden and a grass tennis court. There is a 19th century stable block with three stables, and a disused squash court, used for storage, with an artist’s studio above. The 18th century coach house has planning permission for conversion into a two- or three-bedroom flat with office below. Reeds Farm, an 18th century family house in Empshott, has a guide price of £3.4 million, Knight Frank describes it as “an equestrian family’s dream”. It has six bedrooms on three floors, a one-bedroom studio flat, a two-bedroom barn flat and a large games room in a barn. Set in 22 acres, the farm’s equestrian facilities include: paddocks (each with a field shelter), four courtyard stables, feed and tack rooms, a stable block of six stables and tack room, and all-weather gallops. There is also a swimming pool with a pool house.

The unusual

At Pulborough, Batcheller Monkhouse is offering Blakewood for £1.4 million. It has 32 acres of bluebell woodland and a thriving commercial clubhouse used for weddings, parties, and a regular music club night. The property is not being sold as a going concern, but advance bookings will be available to the buyer. Blakewood is described as “a charming and unusual property which has been developed by the present owners over many www.southdowns-property.co.uk

P r ope rt y M a r k et

on this floor, and four bedrooms and a family bathroom on the second floor.

Blakewood, with Batcheller Monkhouse

years since they purchased the woodland in 1984”. The house was built some six years ago and has four bedrooms and three bathrooms, fine receptions and a family room. The bluebell woodland has been thinned to provide a view to farmland. The clubhouse, built 10 years ago, measures some 20 x 10 metres and has function room with raised stage, a dance floor and large open fireplace with a corner bar – as well an office/reception area, food bar, foyer, toilets, kitchen, scullery, cellar and wine store. Outside there is a lawned area is suitable for a marquee.

Part of the outbuildings has been converted into a self-contained one-bedroom cottage, with planning permission for further accommodation. Dry storage, garaging and potential stabling are available in the range of ex-agricultural buildings. The landscaped gardens around the house include a hard tennis court, and there is a pasture field of about 9.4 acres in grounds extending to 13.8 acres. The guide price is £3.95 million.

For the family

Churchlands is a large family house between Midhurst and Petworth. On the market with Savills and Jackson-Stops & Staff, it has four reception rooms and six bedrooms, a studio/games room, a den, a swimming pool, a grass tennis court, stabling and paddocks, in about 8.3 acres. There is planning permission to extend the kitchen/breakfast room. The guide price is £2.85 million.

Stunning views

Home Farm is a fine Edwardian family home three miles south of Haslemere in the National Park on the market with Peter Hughes. It is on the southern slopes of Blackdown, the highest point in West Sussex and owned by the National Trust. The area inspired the Victorian Poet Laureate Lord Tennyson, who built a house nearby, and enjoyed the southerly views across the Rother Valley to the South Downs. Originally part of the Blackdown Park Estate, Home Farm was owned in the early 1900s by diamond magnate Sir Frederic Lawrence Philipson-Stow, who became chairman of De Beers Diamonds. The 2,000 acre estate was split up and sold off in lots in the 1940s. The previous owner of Home Farm moved in on D-Day in June 1944. The extensive accommodation, sympathetically restored, is on three floors with well-proportioned rooms, high ceilings and large windows taking full advantage of the views. The ground floor has an impressive drawing room, a sitting room, a spacious kitchen/ breakfast room (with vaulted ceiling and four oven electric Aga), a study and a dining room opening onto the conservatory. On the first floor the master bedroom suite has a big bathroom and two dressing rooms, and the guest bedroom with an en suite bathroom. There are two further bedrooms and a bathroom

Oakhurst, with Henry Adams

For those seeking a project and with a budget of more than £2 million Hamptons International Country House Department has a Victorian house with “huge potential” at Stedham, near Midhurst called Meadow Hills. It has five bedrooms and four reception rooms, plus a separate lodge, stabling, paddocks and a river frontage in grounds of 22 acres. Treelands in Bury has four bedrooms and is being marketed by Hamptons International in Chichester for £895,000. Set in three acres, partly paddock, it has an outdoor heated pool and stables which are being used for storage, and a number of outbuildings. There is also a large double garage complete with inspection pit and off-road parking for several cars – “ideal for a Goodwood enthusiast”, say the agents. Oakhurst, with Henry Adams in Storrington, is a spacious family house with 4/5 bedrooms in West Chiltington. It has a large garden, a swimming pool, and a stable yard with two loose boxes – all for £480,000.

Churchlands, with Savills and Jackson-Stops & Staff www.southdowns-property.co.uk

Contact Batchellor Monkhouse, 01798 872081 Hamptons International, 01243 839399 (Chichester); or 01483 572864 (Country House Department) Henry Adams, 01903 742535 Jackson-Stops & Staff, 01730 812357 Knight Frank, 01962 850333 Peter Hughes, 01798 344554 Savills, 01483 796800 3

NEWS

Re-elected

Grant for ancient farm Butser Ancient Farm secured a £30,000 grant from the SDNPA’s Sustainable Communities Fund (SCF). The SCF Grants Panel includes representatives from the National Park Authority and partner organizations who agreed to fund several projects to the value of almost £200,000 out of a £400,000 fund. An archaeological research site, Butser Ancient Farm is a well established rural education centre, attracting 15,000 schoolchildren and 10,000 members of the public each year. Four roundhouses and a Roman Villa have been reconstructed on the site at Bascomb Copse, near the village of Chalton in the South Downs National Park.

Charles Peck and Margret Paren

Margaret Paren and Charles Peck have been unanimously re-elected as Chair and Deputy Chair of the South Downs National Park Authority (SDNPA) for a second year. During her first year, Margaret Paren has overseen the SDNPA taking on its full responsibilities in April 2011. She said “I would like to thank all the Members, partners, staff and all those who have helped the South Downs National Park Authority to reach this point.” “In our first operational year we want to give every opportunity to people who care about the South Downs to help map out the future of the National Park. The inaugural meeting of the new South Downs National Park Forum, in July, will initiate a series of events where we will encourage people to give us their views.”

South Downs walks Day Walks on the South Downs (paperback, 168pp, £12.95). is the fifth title in Vertebrate Publishing’s series of compact and portable hill walking guidebooks.

Launched at Saddlescombe Farm, north of Brighton, in July, the book has 20 circular routes (between 6 and 14) suitable for hill walkers of all abilities. The routes are split into three areas – Hampshire, West Sussex and East Sussex – and include Winchester Hill Fort, Black Down, Chanctonbury Ring, Devil’s Dyke, Ditchling Beacon and Beachy Head. The easy-to-follow directions have details of distance, navigation information, refreshment stops, plotted on Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 mapping. Author Deirdre Huston, a South Downs local and keen hill walker, has now published three books with Sheffield-based V-Publishing – the first two were about cycling. Vertebrate Publishing, www.v-publishing.co.uk 4

The refurbishment project aims to improve the visitor experience with a new entrance building which will include toilet facilities, an office, staff room, store room and education area where artefacts and photos of the farm can be displayed. “This project will create a fitting gateway to our educating and inspiring ancient heritage,” said Maureen Page, Director of Butser Ancient Farm. The new eco-building is named Janus, after the Roman God of Gateways with two faces: one facing the future and one facing the past. The project will use sustainable technologies such as rainwater filtration and storage tanks, modern low water usage toilet systems, waterless urinals and energy-efficient hand dryers. Building materials will be sourced locally. The SCF supports local community projects that have a positive impact on future generations and take full consideration of social, economic and environmental concerns. Grants are available for up to 75% of the project for not for profit organisations including the voluntary and community sector, Parish Councils etc. and 50% for private sector applicants, depending on the project. Further details at: www.southdowns.gov.uk/scf Butser Ancient Farm, www.butserancientfarm.co.uk.

Knight Frank in Haslemere The latest Knight Frank office opens in Haslemere at 1 West Street on 1 September. It will concentrate on town and country property in South Surrey, West Sussex and South East Hampshire, encompassing the heart of the South Downs. A spokesman said: “Our opening in Haslemere completes an important link in our network of offices and we will work closely with our existing offices in Guildford, Winchester and Horsham, adding to our unrivalled knowledge of the local market.” The new office territories include: Petworth, and the villages of Loxwood, Wisborough Green and Fittleworth in the east; Petersfield, Liphook, Hindhead and Headley in the west; and, from north to the south coast, Haslemere, Midhurst, and Chichester.   In the run-up to opening, the Haslemere team – Russell Grieve (Partner) and Sam Turner (negotiator) – will be based in the Guildford office. www.southdowns-property.co.uk

FINE

World record A rt

for Cowdray painting

World records are smashed for paintings by Stubbs and Gainsborough at Christie’s London Thomas Gainsborough’s ‘Portrait of Miss Read, later Mrs. William Villebois’, sold for £6,537,250 at Christie’s London Old Master & British Paintings Evening Sale in early July – a world record price for the artist at auction. The previous world record price for a Gainsborough sold at auction was $5,753,000 for ‘A wooded landscape with a herdsman, cows and sheep near a pool’, sold at Christie’s New York in April 2008.

This painting, which featured on the cover of issue 6 of South Downs Property, headed a group of three old masters offered from Cowdray Park. They realized a combined nrTsY total of £8,739,750 in the auction. Marcus w o e P Gheeraerts’ portrait of Frances Howard, South D Pro focus on Countess of Hertford (later Duchess of Lennox Parham and Richmond, fetched £1.7 million, which was Pick of the properties above the estimated price and another world record price for the artist at auction. E FRE£3.00) (value

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At the same auction ‘Gimcrack On Newmarket Heath’ (1765), an oil painting by horseracing artist George Stubbs, fetched £22.4 million, thus becoming the third most valuable old master painting ever sold at auction. A masterpiece of both British art and sporting painting, it portrays Gimcrack, one of the most popular and admired of all 18th century racehorses. It was last sold at auction in 1951 when it realized £12,600. Richard Knight, International co-Head, and Paul Raison, Head of International Masters and 19th Century Art at Christie’s London, said: “A noticeable demand from private clients led to solid results in the third highest total for an auction at this category at Christie’s in London. We saw a particularly high level of interest and bidding from new clients, including a significant number from Asia. “A noticeable change in the market for old masters is that we are welcoming collectors who buy across a range of categories, driven by quality, and these collectors are adding a new energy to certain sectors of this field. Stubbs now joins Rubens, Rembrandt, 6

Frances Howard, Countess of Hertford, by Marcus Gheeraerts II

Turner and Pontormo as the only artists whose paintings have sold for more than £20 million at auction.” The two most valuable old masters sold at auction were both at Sotheby’s London: ‘The Massacre of the Innocents’ by Sir Peter Paul Rubens, for £49.5 million in July 2002; and ‘Modern Rome – Campo Vicino’ by J M W Turner for £29.7 million in July 2010. At Christie’s last week, six works of art sold for £1 million (12 over $1 million). Buyers (by lot / by origin) were 33% UK, 36% rest of Europe, 24% Americas, and 7% Asia and Middle East. From 13 to 15 September Christie’s will host a three-day auction at Cowdray Park, offering more than 1,000 lots, with individual items ranging from £100 to over £250,000. The auction will have works from Cowdray Park, the home of Lord Cowdray, and property from Dunecht, the Scottish home of Lord Cowdray’s brother, the Hon. Charles Pearson. Christie’s, www.christies.com www.southdowns-property.co.uk

A D V E RT I S E M E N T F E A T U R E

Betterby

design

BEFORE

Personal project management and attention to detail are key aspects of the experienced design and building services offered by Premier Property Premier Property designs, builds and finishes top quality home improvements. These can be complete renovations, or individual kitchens, bathrooms and all types of building work. Founded 10 years ago, the Hampshire company remains a friendly family firm, still run by David and Suzanne Harding and dedicated to its many happy clients. They say: The emphasis with Premier Property is to provide a personal service tailored to the customers’ needs. How Premier Property works “David project manages every job,” explains Suzanne. “Project management means that David is the point of contact throughout and will discuss every step of the work with customers. We aim to remove all stress and confrontation commonly experienced during building projects. “We excel at extensions, total refurbishment, kitchens and bathrooms and we take on many kinds of projects. We never take on more than one major project at a time.

AFTER

Three recent jobs have included: • a large patio area and small kitchen extension in Chichester • total redesign and refurbishment of a barn in Petersfield, which included moving walls and supplying and installing the kitchen and two bathrooms, all windows were replaced and new oak beams fitted throughout • a new high spec men’s shower facility at a Surrey golf club. Many testimonials David Harding says: “the many testimonials we have received show how much we succeed in our goals. We set out to provide a very personal service, starting with imaginative and practical design, finishing each job to a very high standard. “We build trust and respect with each other, and we respond to any challenges which arise. We can make our clients’ dreams come true, and we achieve that with our dedicated service – applying ourselves single-mindedly to each individual customer and the job in hand.” What our customers say “David was very helpful and forthcoming with design ideas and suggestions. Some of his ideas proved inspirational and have made the final product a class above the rest.” Mark and Ruth, Petersfield. “The club are very pleased with the finished product. Having completed one project [on time and to budget] we are now involved in a another one with Premier Property. Need I say more” Surrey Golf Club. High standards Premier Property have built up a team of trusted, reliable and high quality tradesmen. The Premier Property professionals share the company’s high standards and sense of customer service. “We are proud of our reputation,” David adds. “We are wellknown for our reliability and our superb start-to-finish building service. We aim to fulfil – and surpass – the expectations of clients, who are kept in constant contact every step of the way.” Contact For more information about Premier Property’s special service, call 01730 710028 or 07887 706440. Email: info@premproperty.co.uk Visit: www.premproperty.co.uk

www.southdowns-property.co.uk

1 CLIFFORD HOUSE, PETWORTH 11 CLIFFORD HOUSE, PETWORTH CLIFFORD HOUSE, PETWORTH WEST SUSSEX GU28 0AH WEST SUSSEX GU28 0AH WEST GU28 PRICE GUIDESUSSEX £349,000 WEST SUSSEX GU280AH 0AH

PRICE GUIDE £349,000 PRICE GUIDE £349,000 PRICE GUIDE £349,000 DEVELOPMENT OF COMPLETELY REFURBISHED, EXCEPTIONALLY HIGH QU VEAN DEVELOPMENT OF COMPLETELY REFURBISHED,REFURBISHED, EXCEPTIONALLY HIGH QUALIT EXCLUSIVE DEVELOPMENT OF COMPLETELY EXCEPTIONALLY APARTMENTS SITUATED IN THE TOWNS MARKET SQUARE AN EXCLUSIVE DEVELOPMENT COMPLETELY EXCEPTIONAL APARTMENTS SITUATED IN OF THE TOWNSIN MARKET SQUARE APARTMENTS SITUATED THEREFURBISHED, TOWNS MARKET SQUARE APARTMENTS SITUATED IN THE TOWNS MARKET SQUARE

Petworth, West Sussex 3 g y in nl n O ai m re

Price from £275,000 to £349,000

An exclusive development of completely refurbished, exceptionally high quality apartments situated in the town’s Market Square * Communal Entrance Hall * Private Entrance Hall * Master Bedroom with En-suite Shower Room * ntrance Hall, Private Entrance Hall, Master Bedroom with Room En-suite Shower Room, Two Furthe Communal Hall,*Private Entrance Hall,Reception Master Bedroom with Ro * TwoEntrance Further Bedrooms Second Bathroom * Principal with Kitchen and En-suite Dining Area Shower * cond Bathroom, Principle Reception Room with Kitchen andTops Dining Communal Garden * Communal Gardens *Bathroom, Colour Video Entry Phone *Reception Solid Oak Kitchen Work * 5Kitchen RingArea, Gas Hob * Built-in * Bedrooms, Second Principle Room with and DiningOven Area, Co Communal Entrance Hall,Fridge Private Entrance Hall, Master Bedroom En-suite Shower * Built-in & Freezer * Fully Tiled Bathrooms * Built-in Wardrobeswith * * Wired for Surround Sound in Lounge Reception & Bathrooms * 37CDI Worcester Bosch Boilerand * Bedrooms, Second Bathroom, Principle Room with Kitchen Dining Area,

Entry Phone, Solid Oak Kitchen Work 5 Ring Gas Hob,5 Built Oven, Colour Video Entry Phone, Solid Oaktops, Kitchen Work tops, Ring in Gas Hob,Built BuiltIninFridge Oven, nce Hall, Private Entrance Hall, Master Bedroom with En-suite Shower Room, Two & F y Tiled Bathrooms, BuiltBathrooms, In Wardrobes, for Surround Sound in Lounge & Bathrooms, Freezer, Fully Tiled BuiltWired In Wardrobes, Wired for Surround Sound in Loung nd Colour Bathroom, Reception with Boiler Kitchen and 5Dining Area, Communal G VideoPrinciple Entry Phone, Solid Room Oak Bosch Kitchen Work tops, Ring Gas Hob, Built in Ove 37CDI Worcester 37CDI Worcester Bosch Boiler Freezer, Fully Tiled Bathrooms, Built In Wardrobes, Wired for Surround Sound in Lou 37CDI Worcester BoschBuilt Boiler try Phone, Solid Oak Kitchen Work tops, 5 Ring Gas Hob, in Oven, Built In F

Pulborough, West Sussex

Price Guide ÂŁ795,000 A unique, period barn believed to date from the 15th century set in the centre of the village with historical interest and a studio annexe * Galleried Reception Hall * Principal First Floor Reception Room * Kitchen/Dining Room * Studio * * Master Bedroom Suite with Dressing Room and En-Suite Bathroom * Further 3/4 Bedrooms * Further Sitting Room * * Two Guest Rooms * Two Further Bathrooms * Separate Studio with Open Plan Reception Room and Fitted Kitchen * * Plus Bedroom and luxury Bathroom * Mature Gardens * Parking for several cars and Car Port *

Duncton, West Sussex

Price Guide ÂŁ415,000 * Entrance Lobby * Entrance Hall * Sitting Room * Dining Room * Kitchen/Breakfast Room * * Cloakroom * Office/Family Room * Utility Room/workshop * Three Double Bedrooms * Bathroom * * Gardens (part under licence) and Parking * Oil fired central heating *

P lannin g

Hospital scheme rejected by planners

Planners at the South Downs National Park Authority (SDNPA) met their first big challenge on Monday 11 July with the referral of a proposal to restore the historic King Edward VII hospital and redevelop around it. By Nick Keith The SDNPA planning committee decided to follow the advice of its officers and reject the plans. Their decision came after a three-hour meeting in Cowdray Hall. This involved a presentation by SDNPA planning officer Pat Aird, nine statements by objectors, five speeches by supporters of the plans, and a debate by members of the SDNPA planning committee. Developers City and Country Group said afterwards that they would appeal. The original hospital was built in the early 20th century at the behest of Sir John Cassell, and has several Grade II listed buildings as well as a Gertrude Jekyll garden. The City and Country proposal would restore the hospital building, creating new residential units, a shop and a café in the chapel, and build 220 new homes in the grounds. There would be 143 assisted-care units in the old hospital building and more units from converting other buildings. Chichester District Council (CDC) approved the plans in April. However, the SDNPA planning officers’ report recommended rejecting the plans because the benefits of restoring the listed buildings were outweighed by the potential disadvantages as they would not “secure the long-term future of this heritage asset”. 10

King Edward VII hospital. Photography by Kos Evans

The ‘disbenefits’ included: the unsustainable location; the urbanization of the area and loss of tranquility; the lack of services nearby; the pressure on transport and local community; and the possible impact on the quality of life. The report questioned the long-term viability of the scheme as the financial appraisals had not demonstrated that the development would secure the long-term future of the listed buildings. Pat Aird said that the conservation deficit would be between £25 million and £35 million. Objections to the plans came from parish councils at Easebourne, Elsted and Treyford, Liphook and Bramshott, Lynchmere, Fernhurst, and Bepton; both the Midhurst and Haslemere Town Councils; the South Downs, the Midhurst, the Lynchmere and the Haslemere Societies. The objectors feared, among other things, that the developers would need permission to build more houses to make the scheme work financially. Helen Moore, Residential Managing Director of City & Country, said: “We are confident that we can deliver our well-researched and sensitive proposals. We are award-winning specialists in the restoration of historic buildings. We can finance our vision as we have the confident support of our bank”. As well as “resounding” approval from CDC, she said, the development had support from English Heritage and Natural www.southdowns-property.co.uk

P lannin g

England. The buildings have been empty and deteriorating for five years, and this was a chance to secure the long-term future and conserve and enhance important heritage assets in the Park. “As each day goes by costs go up and the buildings deteriorate,” she added.

“A great many things can go wrong – increases in costs and interest rates, or lack of sales,” he added. “So uncertainty still remains from our point of view.”

Many committee members agreed that the decision was finely balanced – “on a knife-edge”. The conflicting issues were whether this development was too high a price to pay for the desirable restoration of listed buildings.

Committee chairman Andrew Shaxson told the meeting that he had been in two minds about the proposals and he was pleased that the English Heritage opinion had been clarified. He said he was going to “vote with the officers”. An earlier proposal from Charles Peck which was on the table was seconded; and six committee members voted to reject the plans, with the rest abstaining.

Charles Peck, Deputy Chair of the SDNPA, said: “We are being asked to approve a series of compromises.” A letter from English Heritage, which supporters of the scheme said supported their case, was “not a ringing endorsement”, he added. “Our purposes and duties are clear,” Charles Peck stated. “We are obliged to make things better.” The SDNPA’s responsibilities are to conserve and enhance wildlife; to promote understanding among residents and visitors; and “to seek to foster the economic and social well-being of communities in the National Park”. David Brock, from English Heritage, was asked to clarify their position. He said: “So far, we have objected to all previous schemes because the amount of development did not convince us that it was sufficient to secure the long-term future of the buildings. In these proposals there is still a sizeable conservation deficit – and that should be zero.

After the decision, Helen Moore commented: “We are extremely disappointed that the South Downs National Park Authority, which when established stated one of its key aims was to conserve and enhance the cultural heritage of the National Park, has chosen to neglect this very responsibility at the first time of asking and let a nationally important heritage asset fall into terminal disrepair. “We have worked exceptionally hard over the last 18 months to deliver a scheme that has been recognized as being both sensitive and high-quality, and the SDNPA has today squandered the last and best opportunity for a comprehensive solution to preserve one of the district’s best-loved heritage assets. We of course will appeal this highly unsatisfactory decision and we are confident that we will win at appeal with costs awarded against SDNPA.”

Overhead view of the site

www.southdowns-property.co.uk

pic k of t h e p r ope rties

Pick of the Properties

South Downs Property selects a range of interesting houses

Mockbeggars, Nr Pulborough

Agent: Grantley 01483 893939 Guide Price: £3.5 million

5/6 bedrooms Period guest barn Staff cottage Gym, outdoor pool & tennis court

This 17th century house with additions is three miles from Wisborough Green. Set in over 28 acres there is a rich sporting attraction, including a stableyard with 4-6 loose boxes.

The Old Coach House, nr Winchester Gym/ games room 2 cottages 5 acres

Agent: Knight Frank 01962 850333 Guide Price £2.65 million

Main house on three sides of a quadrangle, with Coachman’s Cottage, Gardener’s Cottage and 18th century walled garden. High celinged kitchen.

Co r

rec

White Horse Cottage, Fittleworth

3 bedrooms 4 interconnected reception rooms Cellar

Agent: Mallards, Storrington 01903 746000 Guide Price: £725,000

Grade II listed attached period home in the National Park. Part may date from the early 1400s. Spacious family accommodation and a delightful south-facing cottage garden.

South Downs Factfile Halifax House Price Index Published on 6 July, the Halifax HPI reported that prices in Q2 (April to June 2011) were 0.5% lower than in the previous quarter. This was the smallest quarterly fall since 2010 Quarter 2 (0.0%). On an annual basis, prices were 3.5% lower year-onyear. This was an improvement on the annual rate of -4.2% recorded in May. Low interest rates have helped to improve affordability. Typical 12

mortgage payments for a new borrower have fallen from a peak of 48% of average disposable earnings in mid 2007 to 28% in 2011 Quarter 2. This key measure of affordability is important in supporting housing demand.

Hometrack June has seen an improvement in the housing market, according to Hometrack from a survey of 5,000 agents and surveyors across 2,300 postcodes in England and Wales.

As well as a bounceback after a subdued May market, this

-3.5%

Monthly change

1.2%

Agent: Hamptons International Country House 01483 572864 Guide Price: £3.975 million

We regret that this property was miss-named and wrongly priced in issue 6.

£163,049

Annual change

Modern hi-tech country house with indoor swimming pool. All four reception rooms have views of 10 acres of grounds in rural surroundings. Impressive air-conditioned kitchen.

-0.5%

June 2011

Average Price

6 bedrooms Sauna, Jacuzzi and steam room Cinema / games room

The volume of sales agreed went up by 10.6% – the highest monthly increase since March 2011 (12.6%). The number of applicants registering also rose, from -0.5% in May to 1.9% in June.

UK House prices Quarterly change

Sopers Manor Farm, Fernhurst

tio

reflects lower prices and greater realism by sellers , Hometrack adds. They note that pricing levels remain under pressure. The number of properties for sale grew by 3.5% in June following a 3% increase in May. While supply has grown across all regions in the first six months, demand has varied. In the first half of 2011, Hometrack sums up, the housing market has held better than expected. www.southdowns-property.co.uk

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