Historic hotel outbuilding to be turned into flats

Owston Hall was home to the Cooke family in the 18th Century

A historic hotel has been granted approval to renovate its vacant coach house into apartments as part of plans to redevelop the estate into a spa hotel and golf course.

Doncaster Council approved plans for the renovation of the outbuilding at the Grade II listed Owston Hall Hotel, which was bought by businessman Richard Martin in 2022.

The 10 apartments are part of an extensive redevelopment. A plan for the main house was submitted to the council in July 2023 and is under consideration by planning officers.

The proposal said the renovation would create “one of the most significant golf resorts in the north of England”, with the potential to host events such as Pro Am celebrity golf day.

The approved application to develop the former coach house, which has fallen into disrepair, would see the building converted into nine two-bedroom apartments and a one-bedroom apartment for short and long-term lets.

The wider plans could see the main building renovated, including a centralised bar, kitchen, separate casual and fine dining areas, and modernised toilets.

Its current conservatory would be demolished to create a “casual drinking and dining destination” with a front terrace.

Mr Martin is also seeking to build an extension containing 23 "luxury" double bedrooms, with an additional two bedrooms to be created in the existing building.

The hotel’s spa, which is currently out of use, would be extended and renovated, creating four additional treatment rooms, a relaxation room, additional changing facilities, a dining area, a gym and sun patio.

Owston Hall began as a medieval manor house. The building was redeveloped and modernised by owner Bryan Cooke and architect William Lindley in the 1700s.

It was redesigned again by his son Philip Davies-Cooke in 1827 and finally sold to a private family in 1976. It was bought by its current owners in 2022.

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