Council planners refuse spa and leisure plans for Northumberland wedding venue
Plans for a spa and improved leisure facilities at an award-winning wedding venue have been refused by council planners.
A swimming pool, sauna, gym and treatment rooms were also included in a planning application submitted by Helen Ruff of Ellingham Hall.
The application also proposed five new garden rooms and four new houses in and around the walled garden.
However, it has been refused by Northumberland County Council due to insufficient information on highways and ecological matters.
The application also attracted 32 objections from local residents and Ellingham Parish Council with concerns about road safety and traffic, noise, lack of parking and over-development.
The proposed development was on the site of the old school swimming pool, old greenhouses and potting sheds.
Principal planning officer Jon Sharp reported the principle of the development and the design was acceptable. However, further information and assessment of the impact on woodland had not been provided.
He said that whilst the car parking details were acceptable, the swept path details are not and remain outstanding.
A planning report on the applicant's behalf had stated the growing need to meet client expectation of having spa facilities on site.
The proposed changes, they said, would not only support the existing core business, but upscale what can be offered, ensuring a sustainable future.
Ellingham Hall received planning consent in 2021 for a new West Wing on the former servants’ quarters site, and the reinstatement of the East Wing to bring the Hall’s occupancy to 97 guests.
The report added that the typical number of guests coming to a wedding ranges from 80-140 and this project would allow the majority of guests to stay on site rather than having to travel.
A new access to the site was proposed from the existing road that runs to the north of the Hall serving other cottages. Two new passing spaces were also proposed on the north access road.
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