Brampton Hall owners lose planning appeal over orangery

John and Edward Tribe of grade II listed Brampton Hall, between Beccles and Southwold, had lodged plans with East Suffolk Council, which refused them.

The owners then appealed to the planning inspectorate to review the refused plans.

But planning inspector Paul Thompson has now issued a report supporting the council's refusal

Brampton Hall is a listed country house built in 1794 of red brick for Rev Naunton Thomas Orgill Leman and the Leman family who had long associations in the area. 

The hall is the former rectory of Brampton's Church of St Peter.

Relationship between the Church of St Peter and Brampton Hall (Image: Google)

Since it is by the listed church building, the inspector says he had "given regard" to the close proximity of the two buildings in making his decision to refuse the appeal.

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In the applicants' appeal, they argued that the "Church of St Peter is surrounded by mature trees" which "separate it from the hall", which the inspector disregarded. 

The report said that the plans would "be harmful to the special architectural and historic interest of the Grade II listed building".

The existing conservatory at Brampton Hall (Image: Bespoke Design)

Documents show that the owners argue the conservatory "needs repairing" anyway, so they may as well replace it with an orangery.

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The Inspector does say that removing the damaged conservatory would "improve the appearance" of the building and bring it back to its "original form" which should be "preserved".

The council had said it "does not object to its [the conservatory] demolition", but to replace it with an orangery would "harm" the listed building and "fail to preserve" the Grade II listed building.

Brampton Hall (Image: Bespoke Design)

An orangery is like an extension rather than a conservatory as the side walls are made from solid brick pillars and columns combined with large windows and it is often used to grow indoor plants.