PLANNING
After the public consultation, we have collated the feedback and most common questions, and have answered what we can in more detail below. In the coming weeks we will keep this page updated as the planning application progresses, and we will be able to share more detailed information from specialists to address anyones questions and concerns. If anyone has further questions, please do reach out and we will try to address these as best we can.
HOW TO GET INVOLVED
We’re inviting the local community to take part in shaping the future of Parnham Park. Your involvement is key to helping us deliver something truly special — a scheme that protects our heritage, enhances the landscape and benefits everyone.
SITE VISIT
Join a guided walk around with Ed Grant, Senior Project Manager, to explore the proposals on site and ask questions in person. Site visits run 25th – 27th August, please book a place below:
EXHIBITION BOARDS
Download and review the full public consultation materials, as presented at our recent event.
ACCESSIBILITY PLAN
View the detailed site accessibility plan submitted as part of the formal planning application.
Planning Application
Parnham Park is bringing forward a planning application for 83 new homes in the northern part of the estate. This ‘enabling development’ will help fund the restoration of the Grade I listed house, following emergency works already underway.
This page shares the information presented at our recent public consultation — including background, vision, proposals and key planning considerations — and invites questions or feedback.
The Parnham Park Estate team is proud to present a sensitive, high-quality scheme designed to secure the future of the estate and contribute positively to the local community. We encourage you to explore the proposals, download the exhibition boards and book a walk around with our team to see the plans in context.
BOOK A SITE VISIT
“You can book a walk around with Ed Grant, Senior Project Manager, to view the proposals in context and ask questions in person. Site tours will take place on 25th – 27th August.”
vision for parnham
Our vision is to secure the long-term future of Parnham Park through a considered and respectful reimagining of the estate as a sustainable, modern country destination. The proposals are designed to balance heritage, community, and ecology.
A hospitality offering with accommodation, restaurants, and a health and wellness focus, with an emphasis on art and design, will bring vitality to the estate, while curated events, exhibitions, and community initiatives will help embed Parnham in the cultural and civic life of the region.
The project will create a major new attraction for West Dorset — generating employment, drawing visitors, and delivering significant economic benefits to Beaminster and the surrounding area. A key part of the hospitality offering will be the use of locally sourced produce and the hosting of artistic and social events, with a licence already secured.
Parnham will continue to be an important Grade I heritage asset for Dorset — a place to be enjoyed and celebrated by the community and visitors alike. Our vision is for it to once again be a source of pride, with a renewed focus on nature, food, art and design.
HOUSING & DESIGN
The 83 proposed dwellings are a carefully curated mix of house types, located in the northern part of the estate. The new residential neighbourhood will be integrated sensitively into the northern boundary, with a landscape-led approach to design and a deep respect for the natural beauty and character of the area.
Inspired by the classical detailing and proportions of local buildings, the architectural language draws on the historic vernacular of Beaminster and nearby villages — reinterpreted in a contemporary and understated way. Homes will be positioned to make the most of views, orientation and the surrounding landscape, avoiding standardised layouts in favour of an organic structure that responds to topography and natural features.
New access roads, planting and green infrastructure will blend seamlessly into the surroundings, ensuring the development feels like a natural extension of the estate.
HERITAGE & RESTORATION
Parnham Park is one of Dorset’s most architecturally and historically significant houses. Severely damaged by fire in 2017, it required emergency stabilisation and is now entering its next chapter: full restoration. The proposals follow Historic England and national heritage guidance, which support enabling development where carefully managed new housing is the only viable way to save a heritage asset.
This is not a speculative project. It is rooted in addressing the ‘at-risk’ condition of the Grade I heritage asset, and aims to unlock the funding required for essential conservation and restoration repairs. The approach is holistic and heritage-led, with a long-term stewardship model for the wider estate.
DESIGN & HOUSING PROPOSALS
The 83 proposed dwellings are a carefully curated mix of house types, located in the northern part of the estate. The architectural language draws on the historic vernacular of Beaminster and nearby villages, interpreted in a contemporary and understated way.
Homes will be positioned with a strong emphasis on views, orientation and the character of the landscape. The layout avoids standardised design, instead adopting an organic structure that responds to topography and natural features. New access roads, planting and green infrastructure will blend seamlessly into the surroundings.
planning policy & context
The application is proposed to directly address a conservation deficit at Parnham Park and meets the criteria of Historic England’s enabling development policy.
The scheme supports broader planning objectives such as sustainable growth, heritage protection, environmental enhancement and local value.
RESTORING THE HISTORIC ENTRANCE
The proposals include reinstating Parnham’s original 16th-century main entrance — the grand gateway between the Dower Houses. This approach leads onto the original Elizabethan yew and beech-lined carriageway, once the principal route to the main house. Restoring this entrance will enhance the estate’s historic character, improve legibility for visitors and provide a fitting gateway to Parnham.
Environmental Context
We have worked with a team of specialist consultants — including experts in ecology, heritage, transport, and landscape design — to ensure the proposals meet the highest standards of care and responsibility. Supported by over twenty specialist assessments, including ecology, biodiversity, transport, access, drainage, flood risk, visual impact, noise, arboriculture, archaeology and heritage. These studies have shaped everything from housing placement and access design to wildlife corridors and tree protection zones.
In parallel, the scheme presents opportunities to enhance nature on site through biodiversity net gain — with new native planting in both the development area and the wider estate to encourage wildlife. Existing trees and hedgerows will be retained where possible, and a re-established riverside walk along the River Brit will create a rich, biodiverse public route. Ecological improvements will focus on the river corridor, reinforcing habitats for species such as kingfishers and otters.
CRAFTSMANSHIP IN RESTORATION
In 2022, a new oak bridge was built in the style of the historic bridge at the lake, which had become structurally unusable. Crafted by James using traditional techniques, it reflects Parnham’s commitment to authenticity and the sympathetic reinstatement of historic estate features.
