Historic mansion Benham Valence up for revamp

The estate, including the grade II* listed building of the same name, located in Speen, was purchased by businessmen Harry Marriott and Michael Fresson for £5m in 2011.
The pair, of Tangley, Hampshire and Ham, Wiltshire, have now commissioned Newbury architect firm Sutton Griffin to come up with various options to restore the building, the modern offices and surrounding parkland.
Three different planning applications have been lodged with West Berkshire Council, the primary aim of each of them being the restoration of the mansion, built in 1775 for member of the British aristocracy William, 6th Baron Craven, and to reinstate the parkland, originally designed by Georgian landscape architect Capability Brown.
One proposal aims to return the mansion to a country home and to demolish the two nearby office buildings, built by Norsk Data in the 1980s, to make way for a specialist medical park.
The second plan includes the demolition of the offices, which cover more than 107,000sq ft, to make way for further residential dwellings and stables, with potential for a riding school.
The final application considers the restoration of the mansion house, which is currently used as offices by IT firm 2e2, and the replacement of the office blocks for continued commercial use.
The historic gardens to the rear of the mansion, traditionally known as the pleasure gardens or pleasure grounds, which currently remain derelict, will also be restored.
Associate director for Sutton Griffin Architects, Chris Trickey, said: “We live in uncertain times and our clients want to keep their options open, but what is evident is that something must be done.
“[The mansion] should be the jewel in the crown and at the moment it’s a bit lost.
“This building and the estate are important. It has a long and significant history and is a historical asset.”
In the meantime the four IT businesses currently on site will remain until their contracts end over the coming three years.
Benham Valence is not the businessmen’s first joint venture, with other projects including the restoration of a Grade I listed house in Tavistock, Devon, and the restoration of a Grade II* house in Belgravia, London.
Speen Parish Council has voiced support for the plans, which were discussed at a parish meeting in November.
Chairwoman for the council, Meg John, said: “We had no objections because we felt what they were doing would be an improvement.
“The changes they are making for the buildings and the original building are far more sympathetic than the ones previously.”