PLANS for a Sheet country house to be converted into an 85-bedroom hotel have been dealt a further blow. The proposed conversion of Adhurst St Mary was due to go under the microscope at a meeting of EHDC's south planning committee meeting yesterday (Thursday). But officers were set to recommend that district councillors reject the scheme, following doubt that the plans are financially viable. The applicants say that initial planning permission for 12 houses on the site would be needed to help fund the hotel project. And if the hotel scheme fails, officers fear a planning application could be submitted to convert the whole site to an estate, with up to 35 new houses. A report by planning officers explained: "The applicant intends to build the shell of the houses at the same time as the hotel, so that when the hotel is operating and successful he has the option of fitting out the shell as additional bedrooms. "The additional amended plans now show that the 12 houses could accommodate 33 hotel bedrooms, and a further six bedrooms could be accommodated at first floor within the listed building itself. "This would make an overall total of 85 bedrooms." Steep Parish Council has opposed the scheme all along. In the report its objection states: "The parish council has objected to previous proposals to develop individual housing on this estate over the years and remains resolutely opposed to any such development. "It is contrary to the development patterns assumed in the Village Design Statement, does not form part of any structure plan of which we are aware, and would, we believe, create an undesirable impact in the AONB. "Any approval to such a proposal would also create a disturbing precedent for commercial housing development on a number of other estates in the area." English Heritage and The Victorian Society also voiced opposition to the scheme. In their report to yesterday's meeting officers reached the conclusion that: "The planning authority must be satisfied that the worthwhile planning objectives of restoring the listed building and historic garden can realistically be achieved through these proposals. "If it isn't satisfied, and the result is a development contrary to policy, then the application should be refused." Adhurst St Mary was built by the politician John Bonham Carter in 1858 to the design of the architect Philip Charles Hardwick. Initial plans to restore the building to its former glory were examined in February, when the architect for the proposed project, Richard Pain, put his case to councillors. He warned them that: "This is the last chance to retain Adhurst St Mary in single ownership and achieve the hotel and restoration of the house and grounds as well as the provision of a safe junction and public access. Peter Rodgers told fellow councillors at the time he was staggered on the site visit to see such an "absolutely gorgeous" house. "It must be the prime objective of this committee that we make sure that it does not fall into such disrepair that we actually lose it. "We need to do everything we can to maintain it," he added.
