Dovercourt: Grade II listed Pound Farm House is to be restored

A rundown Grade II listed farmhouse is to be fully restored, it has been revealed.

Pound Farm House in Dovercourt is currently in a poor state of repair and unoccupied while parts of the building are collapsing and urgent work is required to stabilise it.

Now Tendring District Council has given the go-ahead for 30 new homes to be built in the grounds of the former farmhouse, which dates from the mid to late 17th Century and early 19th Century.

The council has also given listed building consent for a single-storey rear extension and alterations to Pound Farm House itself.

Carlo Guglielmi, cabinet member for planning, said the scheme will be welcomed.

“There has been a great deal of concern about the state of Pound Farm House and its future – not least from Tendring District Council,” he added.

“However, we have now given planning permission for the new homes and this will secure the restoration of this important Grade II listed building which is a heritage asset.

“This is an excellent solution to the problem and I look forward to the house being returned to its former glory.”

All but two of the planned new homes will be single-storey properties.

The planning permission is linked to the listed building consent and includes conditions requiring the works to be carried out to the listed building in a phased manner.

The work will result in Pound Farm House being fully restored and eventually made available for occupation before no more than 25 of the dwellings are occupied.

Mr Guglielmi said he fully appreciated the frustration of people living nearby and the ward councillor over how long the scheme has taken to achieve.

He added: “These have been sensitive and lengthy negotiations but the outcome is that we have got everything we hoped for in full.”