The restoration of a huge country house in Wiltshire has progressed, as billionaire Chris Rokos has received the go-ahead from Wiltshire Council for the latest set of plans for Tottenham House.
This recent application includes floor plans which reveal the scale of the home, listing spaces such as the “billiard room”, “music room”, and “art studio”.
One of the approved projects will involve opening up the historic ceiling in what is to be the “cinema room”.
READ MORE: Plans revealed for new Longleat hippo house
According to the documents submitted to the council, exposing the original ceiling construction will “enhance the acoustic and aesthetic environment of the room when compared with the alternative solution of repairing the dilapidated secondary ceiling”.
The cover letter sent with the plans states: “Through continued careful and responsible stewardship and significant financial investment, the owner has committed to making the estate (including the house) a model of how, in the 21st Century, an estate of significant heritage importance can be managed for the long-term benefit of its owner and the wider local community, and to secure its enjoyment for future generations.
“This stewardship includes the delivery of a comprehensive restoration project which is significantly more sensitive to the historic use of the estate than previous permissions and which would see the estate returned to its original purpose for use as a family residence.
“These proposals further showcase the careful and responsible stewardship of the owner and the significant financial investment that they are willing to continue to commit to the main house and wider estate.”
SEE ALSO: Nine new homes proposed on edge of Wiltshire village among latest applications
It is estimated that the newly restored house will need 69 staff and have running costs equivalent to a medium-sized hotel when complete.
Owner and hedge fund manager Chris Rokos was estimated to have a worth of £2.5bn on the Sunday Times 2024 Rich List.
Don’t miss out on our biggest sale of the year! Get a full year of the Wiltshire Times for only £25 or try 6 months for just £6. Support local journalism and stay informed about what matters most. Subscribe here 👉👉https://t.co/OABFm4dsuO pic.twitter.com/vD7vqDmb8H
— Wiltshire Times (@wiltshiretimes) November 21, 2024
In October, it was revealed he could be liable to enforcement action from Wiltshire Council if a planning application is not submitted and approved for “unlawful” work carried out near the house.
This came after the council received a complaint about work being carried out on the site without planning permission.
Mr Rokos’ planning agent later confirmed that they do intend to submit a planning application, but should this retrospective application be refused, the enforcement team will direct the landowner to undertake remedial work.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here