'Business as usual' at Brampton Manor - amid plans to turn site into retirement village
The managing director of Brampton Manor has insisted it is ‘business as usual’ at the venue – and criticised plans which could see the site transformed into a retirement village.
Craig Lynch has held the tenancy at Brampton Manor for 15 years.
HP General Partner Ltd, which owns the site, wants to create a retirement village there and has recently submitted a planning application.
A legal dispute regarding the tenancy for Brampton Manor is ongoing.
Amid the current developments, Mr Lynch told the Derbyshire Times that Brampton Manor – which serves as a pub, restaurant and a venue for celebrations and events as well as a beauty salon combining treatments with afternoon teas – was ‘still very much open for business’.
He added that he has his own ‘exciting’ plans for the site in the future, including holding antiques fairs and art exhibitions, monthly street food markets and big screen events outside the historic Manor House.
Mr Lynch said he expected HP’s application to be rejected by Chesterfield Borough Council after a number of objections – including from English Heritage – were submitted.
Raising his own objections to HP’s application, Mr Lynch said: “If the proposed scheme is implemented there would be no public access to Brampton Manor.
“Brampton Manor has been available to the public as a popular community facility for decades and the proposed change of use would result in the loss of this community facility.
“Brampton Manor provides more than a local pub.
“It is a successful restaurant and celebration venue.
“It is acknowledged that there are other such venues in the Chesterfield area, but these venues do not have the history and established client base of the Brampton Manor venue.
“This is a valued facility and is used by local residents and groups – Ashgate Croft School, for example.
“If the current planning application is granted it would also result in the closure of this successful local business with the consequent loss of employment.”
Mr Lynch said flats could be built on the site of the adjoining former Princes Sports Club, which closed last year.
He added: “Even in the event that HP General Partner Ltd do obtain the required planning permission and listed building consent any development cannot commence whilst my companies remain in occupation of the Manor House.”
Simon White, of HP, said: "Our proposals are to create an extra care retirement village which, in addition to converting the Manor itself, will see the construction of a number of new-build apartments designed and built for the over-55s, and a purpose-built care home of approximately 60 to 70 beds.
“Those plans will create many more higher skilled jobs, both through the redevelopment phase and the ongoing employment associated with the care home, than will be lost as a result of the closure of the Manor.
“The Manor is a listed building and therefore any application to change its use will involve agencies such as Historic England as well as the local planning authority hence we have made an early application for its conversion, before moving forward with the remainder of our proposals.
“Our planning application in respect of the Manor is due to be determined by Chesterfield Borough Council by March 5.
“We understand that a number of Mr Lynch’s customers may be unhappy with our proposals and they are fully entitled to raise objections but those are not strictly speaking a planning matter and there are other venues within the town that already provide the same services as Mr Lynch offers at Brampton Manor.
“HP believe their proposals for the comprehensive redevelopment of the entire Brampton Manor site, including the now abandoned Prince’s Health Club, will restore the site to much of its former standards while providing a much-needed facility for the town’s aging population in a sustainable location and revitalised surroundings.”