Latest news with #DoomsdayBook
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
New homes start of 'enduring community'
Hundreds of new homes could be the "foundation for a sustainable, inclusive and enduring community" as the start of a new village, the developer behind the proposals have told the BBC. The 350 homes at Kilkenny Farm, near Carterton, in Oxfordshire, could be the first of 6,500 in the surrounding area, HarperCrewe Bloombridge said. Critics of the plans have labelled them "unsuitable" and a "disgrace", saying the negative impacts would "far outweigh any perceived benefits". But Richard Cutler, from the developer, said the plans would deliver an "exemplary, sustainable new neighbourhood". The proposals were submitted to West Oxfordshire District Council (WODC) in February, and are currently under public consultation. The scheme includes plans for a community hall and 122 properties available for "affordable rent and discounted sale". Mr Cutler, who has helped shape the plans over the past decade, said they had been "carefully designed" and were "largely" about addressing "clear and pressing housing needs". He told the BBC: "The goal is to create a neighbourhood that delivers long-term value for West Oxfordshire, that fosters community strengthening, and sets a new standard for design, sustainability and placemaking across the district." "Kilkenny Farm is not simply a housing scheme, but a foundation for a sustainable, inclusive and enduring community," he said. But the proposals have proved controversial, with one opposition statement submitted to WODC pleading: "Please leave our countryside alone." "Infrastructure, services, and the local environment are not in a position to support a development of this magnitude," another said. One local resident added: "While I understand the need for housing, this development is excessive and unsustainable for the local area." Another questioned the development's location around a village featured in the Doomsday Book, but Mr Cutler said the site was the "logical and appropriate location for growth". You can follow BBC Oxfordshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram. Plans for new village labelled 'disgraceful' West Oxfordshire District Council
North Wales Live
18-05-2025
- General
- North Wales Live
'We've been here 450 years, I'm sad we've having to take this decision'
One of the oldest and most significant properties in North Wales is up for sale How many properties in Wales feature in the Doomsday Book and can boast connections to a 9th Century King of Wales? Or, for that matter, have played a direct role in the English Civil War, as evidenced by it's cannon ball scars? Historic Gwysaney Hall has been owned by the same family for more than 450 years. The mantle of custonianship can rest heavily, and that's certainly the case for current owner Richard Davies-Cooke: he will probably be the last of the family to do so. It's been listed for sale. The main property, its cottages and 26 acres of grounds near Mold, Flintshire, are on the market for £2.5m. Gwysaney Hall is one of the country's most significant houses, awarded a Grade II* listing by Cadw in 1952, updated in 2002. It was cited for being a 'substantial and well-preserved Jacobean house with important C19 and early C20 additions'. The existing hall is believed to date back to 1603. It has remained in the Davies-Cooke family ever since, never changing hands until, potentially, now. As the family like stretches back to 1550, is easy to see why Richard is so sad to be selling. 'I grew up here as a child, so I've known the house for a very long time,' he told WalesOnline. 'It's been in the family since the day it was built. Join the North Wales Live Whatsapp community now "I feel very privileged to have inherited Gwysaney from my father. It's a really lovely house, it's very friendly, and every generation has done their bit to try and keep on top of things during the years. I feel very honoured and privileged to be here, and sad at the same time that it's on my watch that we've had to take this decision. But we need to be sensible and look at the longer term future for my son and grandson.' At the heart of the 14-bedroom, five-storey house is its 1603 Jacobean era origins - additional wings, extensions and modifications were subsequently added. Richard has a library of captivating tales about the property's history as it's been chronicled by his family over the centuries. He plans to remain on the estate by relocating to a farm. But the main house, two charming three-bedroom cottages, various outbuildings are being sold off, along with 26 acres of land that include formal gardens, an award-winning Pinetum, equestrian facilities and four paddocks. The house and its outbuildings can be customised to suit the new owner's lifestyle and needs. Richard said the property is ideal for multi-generational living, as evidenced by its use since its construction. Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox Despite the building's magnificence, he said it was 'peaceful, welcoming, and happy'. He added: 'The new owners are inheriting a legacy that has been ongoing for a considerable period, but I hope they feel this is their home and that they are part of a larger entity within the estate.' Gwysaney Hall is listed with estate agents Strutt and Parker and Savills. For details, call 01244 354880 or 01244 323232.
Wales Online
03-05-2025
- General
- Wales Online
'I grew up here as a child... I'm sad it's on my watch that we've had to take this decision'
As a youngster, Richard Davies-Cooke would no doubt have run around the maze of corridors that make up historic, grade II listed Gwysaney Hall with typical childhood abandon. And he would have been far from the first child in his family to do so, since it's been in his family continuously for more than 450 years. But he's probably going to have been one of the last, of his family at least, to do so, because it's now been listed for sale. The Hall near Mold in Flintshire is one of Wales' most significant houses, awarded a Grade II* listing by Cadw in 1952, updated in 2002, for being 'a substantial and well-preserved Jacobean house with important C19 and early C20 additions'. How many properties in Wales can boast connections to Rhodri Mawr, the 9th Century King of all Wales, feature in the Doomsday Book, and have played a direct role in the English Civil War? The existing building on the site is believed to date back to 1603, constructed by Robert Davies, and has remained in the Davies-Cooke family ever since. It has never changed hands, until, potentially, now. It's easy to understand why the property has stayed within the current owner's family for over 450 years, with their ownership of the site tracing back to 1550 and also why current owner, Richard Davies-Cooke, is very sad to be selling. For more property stories sent to your inbox twice a week sign up to the property newsletter here READ MORE: You can buy half an entire Welsh hamlet and it's the most gorgeous thing you've ever seen Richard said: "I grew up here as a child so I've known the house for a very long time and it's been in the family since the day it was built. I feel very privileged to have inherited Gwysaney from my father, it's a really lovely house, it's very friendly, and every generation has done their bit to try and keep on top of things during the years. "I feel very honoured and privileged to be here, and sad at the same time that it's on my watch that we've had to take this decision, but we need to be sensible and look at the longer term future for my son and grandson." At the heart of the 14-bedroom, five-storey house is its 1603 Jacobean era, with additional wings, extensions and modifications added over the subsequent centuries. With so much history embedded in the house, it's challenging to pinpoint just a few key highlights but Richard can share captivating tales that vividly depict the property's history, as chronicled by his family over the centuries. He plans to remain on the estate by relocating to a farm, but the main house, two charming three-bedroom cottages, various outbuildings, and the 26 acres of land that include formal gardens, and the award-winning Pinetum, equestrian facilities and four paddocks will be included in the sale to the new owner. The house and its outbuildings can be customised to suit the new owner's lifestyle and needs which includes a suggestion by Richard that the property is ideal for multi-generational living, as it has been since its construction. He adds: "The new owners are inheriting a legacy that has been ongoing for a considerable period, but I hope they feel this is their home and that they are part of a larger entity within the estate." Richard also believes the new owner will immediately connect with such a magnificent building, adding, emotionally, "it's peaceful, it's welcoming, and it's happy". Perhaps there are still yet many more children set to run around the corridors of this amazing home with the same joy that Richard once experienced. Gwysaney Hall, along with its cottages and 26 acres of grounds, is on the market for £2.5m with estate agents Strutt and Parker and Savills, call 01244 354880 or 01244 323232 to find out more. For more property stories join our Amazing Welsh Homes Facebook group here.
BBC News
02-04-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Kilkenny Farm plans labelled 'disgraceful' by Oxfordshire locals
Plans to establish a new village, beginning with 350 new homes, have been labelled "unsuitable" and a "disgrace" by HarperCrewe Bloombridge wants to build at Kilkenny Farm, near Carterton and Brize Norton, in says the 350 new homes, which could be the first of 6,500, would bring "substantial benefits".But those opposed have said negative impacts would "far outweigh any perceived benefits". In one opposition statement submitted to West Oxfordshire District Council (WODC), it said: "Infrastructure, services, and the local environment are not in a position to support a development of this magnitude.""While I understand the need for housing, this development is excessive and unsustainable for the local area," another said. Doomsday Book The application is currently being considered by WODC, having been validated in the Ministry of Defence, which has a large RAF base in Brize Norton, and Carterton Town Council have latter said it was concerned about flooding and drainage, adding: "Infrastructure is already at full capacity including highways, education and health services."One local resident also added: "The idea of concentrating such development around a parish consisting of a linear village named in the Doomsday Book is disgraceful."Another simply said: "Please leave our countryside alone." In its application, HarperCrewe Bloombridge said: "The proposed development has been carefully considered to ensure that the social, economic and environmental objectives of sustainable development are met."The wider site – extending to approximately 100 hectares – has the potential to present a unique opportunity to comprehensively plan and bring forward two new villages, delivering much needed, high quality market and affordable housing in sustainable location, with active travel links."The masterplan for the site has been carefully considered to ensure that the new development can be brought forward and function independently." You can follow BBC Oxfordshire on Facebook, X, or Instagram.
