A COUNTRY house on the outskirts of Petersfield could be transformed into a massive new hotel complex as part of an ambitious £12m project.
Adhurst St Mary at Sheet has been owned by two of PetersfieldÕs most famous families but could now become an 85-room hotel with conference and leisure facilities.
Developers want permission to carry out major alterations and extensions to the large country house, formerly owned by the Bonham Carter family and later the Lubbock family, close to the A272 junction with the old A3.
The house is currently divided into three separate homes and the plans, from the London-based Christie and Co, involve the alteration and extension of the existing building to create an 85-bedroom hotel, together with conference facilities, a restaurant, fitness suite, tennis courts and a pavilion which would provide additional conference facilities.
Planning officer Julia Mansi told The Herald: ÒThis would be a major commercial development for Petersfield and the applicants are looking for four-star quality.Ó
Mrs Mansi said there would be a huge amount of work for planning officers before the application went to the south planning committee, but she hoped to make her recommendations for discussion before Christmas.
ÒA report drawn up by Hampshire County Council last year has identified a need for hotel facilities in Petersfield, but this generally related to the budget end of the market, located in the town itself. The report also identified the general need for a country hotel within the Petersfield area.Ó
She said that she would be visiting the site along with landscape and conservation officers from EHDC.
There are likely to be major highway issues involved in the application. The access to the hotel is directly opposite a local accident blackspot on the junction of the A272 and the old A3 where there has been at least one fatality in recent years.
Mrs Mansi said there could be a new roundabout or traffic lights on the junction.