Plans for new wedding village in grounds of Northumberland hotel are approved

Tedsmore Hall Ltd has received planning permission to build a wedding pavilion and 13 guest lodges in and around the walled garden.

The development is viewed as an exciting new wedding venue but also an essential part of the business plan for Doxford Hall Estate which has identified a need to diversify its existing offer.

‘The site represents an exciting opportunity to provide a bespoke wedding venue, catering for smaller wedding parties of around 60-70 people,’ stated a report on behalf of the applicant.

‘This development proposal provides an opportunity to diversify the existing offer at Doxford Hall and ensure economic growth.

‘It has been clearly demonstrated that these benefits are considered to sustain the significance of the listed walled garden and put the walled garden to viable use that will be both sensitive to the heritage but also support the existing business of Doxford Hall.’

The proposed development is for a new bespoke wedding venue which will comprise a wedding pavilion and a smaller bridal pavilion.

The wedding pavilion would be linked via a covered walkway to an ancillary catering building and toilets.

Thirteen lodges would be situated on land to the north of walled garden.

The proposed lodges will be constructed of Northumbrian sandstone with the roof constructed from timber shingles, to match the roof of the proposed wedding pavilion and bridal pavilion suite. Each lodge would consist of a lobby area, bedroom and en-suite.

Paul Nichol, the council’s tourism and visitor economy manager, said: “With Northumberland existing as a highly desirable location for weddings, the proposal creates an additional opportunity for the county to capitalise on the opportunity created via weddings business and activities to elevate the visitor profile.”

A new gardener’s shed would be built to the north of maze.

The development site is 136m away from the Grade II listed hall.

The application was approved by officers at Northumberland County Council using delegated powers. There were no objections.

Senior planning officer Tony Lowe stated: ‘The proposal will increase the capacity at this existing hotel business, helping to secure its future.’

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