Plans submitted to breathe new life into historic Churton Hall Farm

A Grade II listed historic hall and its grounds would be transformed under plans submitted to Cheshire West and Chester Council.

Under the plans, Churton Hall Farm in the village of Churton would be given a new lease of life and protected for future generations.

Outbuildings in the farmyard would provide 10 new high-quality homes around a courtyard with offices available to residents for homeworking through the renovation of a disused hayloft.

The highlight of the development would be the creation of a care farm to support those with physical and mental challenges that would be run as a not-for-profit CIC (Community Interest Company) and which would become a community and educational resource.

Last month, a separate application to sub-divide historic Churton Hall into two separate properties was given the go-ahead by the council. The house is currently a mix of Elizabethan and Victorian architecture.

The plans would also provide an office for the Barnston Estate, which owns Churton Hall Farm and manages over 1800 acres.

Estate Manager Ed Barnston said:

“We have a responsibility to protect historic Churton Hall Farm for future generations. The site contains listed buildings and doing nothing is not an option.

“Churton Hall itself is the oldest house on the Estate and parts of it have been dated to the 15^th Century.

“We have consulted with parish councillors and the village closely on our plans over the last couple of years and we believe they offer an exciting future for the site and one that ensures that it continues to be of huge importance to people living and working in Churton, Farndon and other neighbouring villages.

“We are particularly excited by the plans to create a care farm which would include a restored walled garden, grow house and an educational and community hub. We’re also planning to introduce British Longhorn Cattle on to the land.

“It would provide opportunities for different groups, such as schoolchildren and those in respite care, to spend time outdoors, learning about the land, growing organic produce, caring for livestock and getting their hands dirty.

“Our hope is that it would become a place that supports mental and physical wellbeing.

“Care farming is increasingly recognised by health, specialist education and social care commissioners for delivering a professional, quality service to a range of service user groups.

“We are passionate about the plans that have been submitted and success will depend on a true partnership approach including the local authority, Historic England and others.”

New access would be provided off Chester Road, while regenerative landscape design and management plans will enhance existing biodiversity, with diversification of flora which will attract more wildlife to the site.

Nature-led strategies will be implemented to ensure provision for nesting birds and bat roosts within the converted farm buildings and their surrounding landscape.

The plans have been developed by the Barnston Estate in conjunction with two Chester companies, architects Raise Architects and Land Studio, who are specialists in landscape architecture, ecology and engineering.

www.barnstonestate.com

Pictured - Churton Hall Courtyard Sketch.