STATELY HOME LIVING

 Fancy living in a stately home?  It may not be such a far-fetched dream.   There are hundreds of stately homes and listed buildings that have fallen into disrepair. Save Britain’s Heritage Campaign aims to find loving owners, not an easy task because there are so many planning restrictions on historic buildings. Your plans need to fit the building, you cannot make the building fit your plans. If you alter the lay-out of the accommodation it must be reversible so that at some time in the future the building could be returned to its original state.

Belford Hall, once thought to be beyond repair, has been reinstated as one of Britain’s finest 18th century villas. The initial investment of £2 million was made by a charity, The Monument Trust. After four years of restoration work the Hall is home to 16 families. They enjoy all the benefits of living in a stately home without the huge costs. The apartments are priced between £60,000 and £125,000 plus a weekly charge of around £28 which covers the maintenance of the building, gardens, lake and communal areas.

In 1980 Jeremy Blundell and seven friends bought The Grange, near Sheffield, for £70,000. They formed a limited company which borrowed £120,000 from the bank to cover the price of the property and the initial restoration work. They turned The Grange into apartments which people bought from the company and the company then repaid the bank loan. Now it is a magnificent home for nineteen adults and six children. Each apartment pays £450 a year into a maintenance fund. All decisions about the house are voted upon and everyone is expected to help with the restoration and upkeep.

Save Britain’s Heritage Campaign: 0171 253 3500