PLANS to build homes at historic Stoneleigh Abbey have been put on hold.
The trustees charged with the care of the grade I listed building had submitted a planning application to build 12 four and five bedroomed homes on land known as the ‘Old Sawmill’ on the park’s estate. The homes would have be based next to the existing 12 home development called ‘The Cunnery’ built 20 years ago.
But trustees have withdrawn the application following a review of its business case.
It comes after nearly 30 objections were received.
But the trustees say the plans had not been shelved, and would be resubmitted.
They say the money raised through the development would be put back into the care of the abbey, which was founded by the Cistercians in 1154 as a monastic house before being turned into a country estate.
The Stoneleigh Abbey Trust was formed in 1996 and supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund, which purchased the dilapidated stately home.
Stoneleigh and Cubbington ward councillor Trevor Wright ‘strongly’ objected the plans, but said the abbey was within its rights to resubmit them.
He told the Observer: “Like any application they have a right to submit what they wish and that will then be assessed in the same way as any other application.”
