Latest news with #GradeII
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- General
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Geri Halliwell launches SECOND bid to install plush gates at Grade II listed mansion - after previous plans were slammed for being 'too tall'
Geri Halliwell has launched a second bid to install plush gates at her Grade II listed mansion - after previous plans were rejected for being 'too tall'. The Spice Girl, 52, and her F1 Red Bull boss husband Christian Horner, 51, wanted to shift their current boundary back from the road and install stone posts on either side, replacing the current timber set-up. But planners rejected their plans as the 10ft tall proposals were 3ft higher than the current gate. Now the couple have re-applied to replace their gates - but this time limited the height of the gate to two meters. Geri and Christian have again proposed oak gates hung from cut stone piers, complete with finials. The finials appear to be more understated than the previous design - which showed them as huge globes above the posts. The posts without the finials are proposed to be the same height as the existing barriers, and will be built in alongside cut stone walling in a recessed gateway. The access road will be replaces with a rubble strip laid under the new gates. The planning application states: 'The new gates are being replaced on agricultural land, which remains designated as agricultural. Since the gates are not being introduced for the first time but are merely a replacement of the existing gates, this is not considered a change of use or a new development. Designs show they are looking to install stone posts on either side of the driveway, replacing the current timber set-up The finials appear to be more understated than the previous design - which showed them as huge globes above the posts. Pictured: The original gates (left) and the first proposed gates (right) 'The gates continue to serve the same purpose, providing access to the agricultural land. As such, the replacement of the gates falls under the category of replacement of a private way (Part 6 - Class B (d)), which is typically permitted under existing agricultural land use. 'Therefore, the replacement gates are lawful and do not alter the existing lawful use of the land. 'Aside from the piers, which match in height with the existing timber piers, all other elements are 2000mm in height or less. The proposal therefore complies with permitted development allowances.' The high-flying pair said the move at their 18th century Northamptonshire pad was to provide a 'waiting bay' in the recessed entry for agricultural land - which they hoped would have helped with safety for larger agricultural and equestrian vehicles. The blueprints for the new design showed the couple wanted to replace the current wooden gate posts with cut stone piers, complete with iron finials. The wall leading to the gates were planned to be cut ironstone and the gates made of oak. Refusing the new gate, the council planning officer previously said: 'The height of the proposed development reaches 3.1m, which exceeds the height of the existing gate which sits at 2.3m. 'The proposed gate fails to comply with criteria of Class A of Part 2 of Schedule 2 of the Town and Country Planning Order 2015 owing to the height of the proposed gate exceeding the former height, and therefore a certificate of lawfulness should not be issued.' It comes after the Horners sparked fury among their rural community when they embarked on a planning war to replace their 18th century kitchen garden with an open-air swimming pool. Previous recent requests to their local council have included demolition and replacement of a glasshouse, the building of a new barn, and a first floor extension to their home's west wing. Plans for the pool caused a particular stir due to its proximity to the local graveyard - with some neighbours saying they worried funerals could be interrupted by 'screaming, shouting and splashing'. It came just ten years after Christian applied to build a different swimming pool in a barn across the road from their luxury pad. He confirmed that it had been built in an interview with Luxury London in 2019, where he said he was trying to get it ready in time for the British Grand Prix. The mansion already has five bedrooms, with one each for the couple and the three children they have between them, as well as a spare bedroom. It also has an indoor pool inside a barn and a fully-equipped gym. But they also wanted to look at access routes to their home and decided to add new gates and a recessed entrance to an opening to their agricultural land, making it safer for large vehicles to wait while the gates are opened. In May 2023 the couple had their first horse-racing win, with a steed named after the Spice Girls' 1999 No 1 single - Two Become Won. And over the last year they have gone from success to success - Lift Me Up, again named after one of the pop star's songs, galloped on resolutely to pocket the £2,053.20 prize at the Hunters' Chase in January.
BBC News
23-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Historical Angel Inn in Stockport granted listed status
A 16th Century pub which has a floorboard made from a tree that was growing during the time of the Domesday Book has been granted listed Angel Inn in Stockport, Greater Manchester, has been given Grade II listed status by the Department for Culture on the advice of Historic England (HE).Built in the 16th century, several timbers within the inn's wooden frame date from the 1400s when The Wars of the Roses raged between the Houses of Lancaster and York. Rare surviving wattle-and-daub – a technique that had died out by the 18th century - fills gaps in the building's frame. Using dendrochronology - a method of dating wood - has proved one floorboard was cut from a tree that was alive in 1086, the year the Domesday Book was said records showed the Angel Inn name dates from as early as 1769, though the site's hospitality roots extend further, with references to "Cotterell's inn" used for sequestrators' meetings in the 1640s, who met to organise the confiscation of property of supporters of King Charles I during The English Civil the late 18th and early 19th centuries, the inn became a cultural hub, hosting meetings, concerts and theatrical performances including the Stockport Philharmonic the mid-19th century, the building had been divided into three separate commercial units. Number 22 became home to R.H. Rostron, a prominent Stockport draper after whom Rostron Brow is named. Number 21 was partially occupied by Samuel Chadwick, a wholesale tea and coffee elaborate plasterwork facade added in 1886, designed by architect TH Allen - who also designed the Grade II listed Bank of Stockport opposite - features angel heads with wings forming window keystones, a nod to the building's long history as the Angel Inn. Crispin Edwards, HE listing adviser, said: "The Angel Inn not only preserves historic timbers and building materials from the 16th century and earlier, but its later alterations also tell the story of its development from inn to cultural venue to multi-use commercial property. "The survival of a floorboard from a tree that was growing during the time of the Domesday Book is truly remarkable."Navendu Mishra MP for Stockport said the listing was a "proud moment for our town". "It's one of Stockport's oldest buildings and has played many roles in the town's history. "From its role in the English Civil War to hosting concerts and community events, The Angel Inn has long been a cornerstone of local life."Stockport Heritage Trust said they were "pleased to acknowledge that another medieval addition to our market place has received the recognition it deserved". Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram and watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer.
The Sun
22-05-2025
- The Sun
The stunning English pleasure lake with abandoned diving boards… where swimming is banned
A HUGE pleasure lake an hour from London features stunning art-deco diving boards - but they are not actually allowed to be used as swimming is banned. Coate Water Country Park, in Swindon, features a diving platform that towers into the sky. 3 3 Originally built in 1935, the structure now stands in the unused lake. The park dates back to the 1820s, when it was first created as a feeder reservoir for the Wilts and Berks Canal. However it didn't take long before members of the local community saw it as a potential leisure retreat where they could enjoy fishing, boating and ice skating in the winter. In the 1930s, the Borough Council transformed the park, adding new facilities including an art-deco style swimming pool and the diving platform. But by 1958, swimming at Coate Water was deemed unsafe due to health and safety concerns and the diving platform was abandoned. Over the decades the landmark fell into disrepair and the steps were blocked off to deter vandals and thrill-seekers. Then in 2013, the platform received a Grade II status as one of only four surviving interwar concrete diving platforms in the UK, and the only one in a lake. Elsewhere in the park there is some opportunity for water play though, thanks to a large splash park. It that has recently undergone a £475,000 upgrade and is expected to reopen on May 23, with a sign at the site stating "get your bathing suits ready". The splash park has a sloped design to also accommodate wheelchair users. It has interactive wet zones and a paddling pool. A large car park is also located a short walk away, as well as Coate Water Cafe for refreshments. A traditional pub - The Sun Inn - is close too, with casual dining, a beer garden and a kids' play area. For those who fancy a walk, there is a path that goes around Coate Water, ideal for dog walking or enjoying the sun. A range of wildlife, including rare birds, can be spotted at the 56-acre park and barbeques can be hired. Also, a popular outdoor attraction to reopen on UK's largest lake – following shock closure last year. Plus, with hiking, cycling, sightseeing, and more, Lake Windermere is the perfect staycation spot. 3
