Plan for country house to become retirement flats

Blaisdon Hall has had a colourful past, ranging from religious orders to oligarchs

A former 19th Century country house, which used to be owned by a Russian millionaire, could become a retirement home.

Timeless Collection Holdings Limited want to turn Blaisdon Hall near Longhope, in the Forest of Dean, into an over 55s rental accommodation.

Blaisdon Hall has had a colourful past, ranging from ironmasters to religious orders, and Russian oligarchs.

The developer's plans include 26 new rental accommodation units, with a full range of supporting communal facilities and 24-hour staffing.

The plans include a restaurant, spa and gym

The application states the conversion will enhance and celebrate the history of the building and features on site, the Local Democracy Reporting Service was told.

The developers pledge to undertake specialist exterior stonework restoration, roof and window repairs where required to address years of neglect.

The proposal for the 87-acre site also includes enhanced landscape and formal gardens and removing large expanses of tarmac to be replaced with sensory planting and edible gardens.

'Ensure building's protection'

If approved, the scheme will see the conversion and reuse of Blaisdon Hall to host communal facilities with refurbishment of existing and creation of new residential accommodation.

The hall was built in the 1870s for Edwin Crawshay, who came from a long line of ironmasters.

By 2009, Blaisdon Hall was purchased by Russian millionaire, Andrey Zhelamskiy.

Its new owners, the Timeless Collection Holdings Limited, said their plans would ensure the building is protected and maintained long term.