THE RESULTS are in for the consultation held on proposals for the long-term future of the Chateau Impney and the Impney Estate and were overwhelmingly positive.
People were offered the chance to tour the estate between August 2 and 7 and travelled from Droitwich, Bromsgrove, Redditch, Worcester and Lindridge to have their say.
Of the 163 forms detailing residents’ views on the plans, there was no single outright objection to the proposed masterplan put forward by owners Greyfort Group.
Feedback was provided on a variety of topics, ranging from style and design features of the development to the sustainability, environment, biodiversity, public access and traffic management.
Greyfort has now confirmed that orientation/information boards along the John Corbett Way would form part of the plan, along with allotment space, play space for children, circular walks around the eastern field and wildflower meadows, native trees, plants and shrubs.
Proposals intend to return Impney Hall and its parkland setting a step closer to John Corbett’s original creation by demolishing much of the 1970s and 1980s buildings and later added access roads which would make way for replanted parkland.
The newer buildings impinged on the aesthetic beauty of Impney Hall and any new housing on the site would be more sympathetic to the heritage.
The houses have been designed to National Space Standards and will utilise air source heat pumps for both heating and hot water provision.
Properties would be on a lower part of the estate, screened from the main house and would also be surrounded by green areas.
The reinstatement of parkland on previously developed land would lead to more green areas overall on the site and a net bio-diversity gain well in excess of 10 per cent.
Impney Hall will continue to operate as a hotel but the operating model would be for a more boutique operation, rather than large events as customer expectation had not matched the experience.
Additional publicly accessible, pedestrian and cycle routes along South Drive would be introduced, adding enhanced connectivity to Droitwich, linking to the existing John Corbett Way and providing beautiful views of the parkland and Impney Hall.
Greyfort Group is currently in pre-application discussions with Wychavon District Council and undertaking a variety of consultation activities before looking to make a full planning application later this year.
It is anticipated that, getting the proposals through the planning process and the work itself could mean the project takes up to between three and five years.
Rod Spollon, managing director of Greyfort Group, said: “I want to thank everyone who took part in the August consultation – we were delighted with the overwhelming support but have also listened to any concerns or suggestions people had.
“As I have mentioned previously, this is not a box-ticking exercise – we wanted a proper consultation to get the best outcome for the estate.”
Click here to read the consultation report in full.
Visit www.impneyestate.co.uk for more on the developments.
