Plans submitted for country house grounds

Blueberry & Co, based in Bideford, wants to create a small tourism business

Plans have been submitted for eight treehouses, a wellness centre, office space and gym in the grounds of a country house in Devon.

Developers want to create a tourism business with other facilities in the woods at Moreton House near Bideford.

The proposals include an entrepreneurs' hub within the office building for start-up businesses and a wellness centre with lettable space.

Restoring the landscape forms part of the wider site investment, the company said.

Neighbours have been "overwhelmingly supportive," according to the applicants, with queries being raised over technical details regarding boundary treatments and drainage runs.

North Devon Council's conservation officer said replacing the prefabricated classroom would be a positive, but its replacement with a larger block would need to be justified in terms of visual impact.

'Erode the completeness'

"The introduction of lodges into this environment will erode the completeness of the current garden area and designed landscape," they said.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, the project aims to restore and develop the landscape and enhance the estate's botanical value and historic views.

No trees will be removed for the treehouses and access will be unaltered.

The proposals have been subject to pre-application advice and a consultation event at Bideford Rugby Club in October.