Modern gallery approved at historic home

Full planning permission was given for the gallery

Plans for a new art gallery in a historic area of Herefordshire have been given the go-ahead despite fears over the impact on its surroundings.

The Grade II listed Hellens Manor in Much Marcle would house paintings from its collection, including works by van Dyck, Hogarth, Goya and Gainsborough.

As the gallery would bring more visitors leading to more spending locally, help maintain the premises and provide a social benefit, Herefordshire Council planning officer Heather Carlisle said these outweighed objections.

The application's heritage statements and the view of government agency Historic England, which did not object, also persuaded her, she said.

The council's public rights of way manager, backed by the Ramblers' Association, said work should not begin until a legal diversion order on a footpath across the site is confirmed.

But there were "appropriate measures through different legislation to resolve this dispute", Ms Carlisle said.

Hellens Manor is owned and run by the Pennington-Mellor-Munthe Charity Trust.

It dates from the Middle Ages and is described as one of the oldest dwellings in England and is a family home.

Revealing the gallery plans last summer, the trust said the curved, modern pavilion would sit alongside an existing duck pond and also be used for musical and literary events, education, outreach and environmental programmes.

The paintings have been kept at Southside House, Wimbledon, in south-west London.

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.