Wildernesse House

Description

The development is set within extensive parkland grounds which surround the Grade II listed Wildernesse House. The site is situated within the Green Belt, an “Area of Local Landscape Importance” and partially within a Conservation Area. It is characterised by a rolling landscape, blocks of woodland and sweeping views. The landscape contains a number of historic features and assets of note, including parkland planting, a number of ancient trees, pathways, ornamental features (fountains, formal gardens, a sun dial) and structures -most notably an ice house -all of which contribute to the site's distinctive character. All new apartments are designed to make the most of the great views -often being double or even triple aspect. Generous balconies overlook the shared grounds and communal gardens. The new mews houses and ground floor units of the villas in the parkland will have terraces and small gardens.

Planning History

PegasusLife purchased the site in 2013 with the aim of delivering a flagship development for the care and support of older people. The realisation of PL's ambitions for the site required the resolution of a number of complex and overlapping planning issues associated with the Site's inclusion in the Green Belt, High Weald and Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Wildernesse Conservation Area and adjacent to the Seal Conservation Area. The site also supported a Grade II listed house, a number of mature trees and was subject to a number of legal covenants, which placed restrictions on the use and siting of development. Each of these designations and legal constraints were supported by highly prescriptive sets of guidelines, which helped to inform how the redevelopment of the Site should be approached. In the context of the planning policy and legal considerations PL and their design team adopted a rigorous approach to the interpretation and application of the policy guidelines to the particular circumstances of the Site. The team sought the views of officers from both Kent County Council (KCC) and Sevenoaks District Council (SDC). A highly interactive process was adopted, which involved site visits and four workshop sessions with SDC officers. The proposals were also been discussed with residents of the surrounding Wildernesse Estate and the wider area at various meetings and at an exhibition. As a result of the process the proposals sought to strike an appropriate balance between the various issues raised and as a result bring forward a high quality, appropriate and deliverable design response to what was an extremely sensitive and constrained site. Planning and conservation consent and listed building consent were achieved in 2015.