Historic cottage set for demolition despite owners selling home on one condition

A historic cottage is set for demolition despite the owners selling the home on the condition that it was sold to "a family who would love it and not destroy it".

The planning inspector overruled Winchester City Council's decision to block the demolition of a historic cottage in the Hampshire village of Swanmore.

It now paves the way for two modern four-bedroom properties to replace it.

The whitewashed property known as Hiawatha, valued at £585,000, attracted significant local opposition when its new owner, Simon Smith, submitted plans to tear it down.

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More than 1,000 residents signed a petition opposing the development, while 200 formal objections were lodged during the consultation period.

The council initially rejected the application, citing concerns that the proposed buildings would be "visually intrusive" and would fail to "adequately conserve the identity of Swanmore".

However, the inspector concluded that the surrounding area already contains properties of varying sizes and styles and that the plans would not harm the local character.

The cottage's former owner, 94-year-old Eric Abbott, who lived there for more than six decades with his wife Peggy, was among those who formally objected to the scheme.

In his submission to the council, Mr Abbott said: "I instructed the estate agent to ensure my wonderful house was only sold to a family who would love it like I did and not destroy it."

He claimed the estate agent had assured him the buyers agreed it would be "their forever home", adding: "It seems they lied and were buying Hiawatha for financial gain."

Mr Abbott said he had previously turned down offers from builders, insisting he would never have sold had he known the purchaser's true intentions.

The council's corporate head of planning and regulatory services, Julie Pinnock, had previously outlined multiple grounds for refusing the application.

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She said: "The proposed development by virtue of its size, scale, design and external finish would fail to maintain or enhance the local character, appearance, built features or the variety of the local environment."

Ms Pinnock also highlighted environmental concerns, noting the scheme "fails to protect and enhance biodiversity" in the area.

Additionally, she raised issues about inadequate assessment of the "increased recreational pressures" the development would create locally.

Mr Abbott's objection also referenced wildlife on the site, expressing hope that slow worms, birds, bats and other species could continue inhabiting the land as they had for years.

The inspector's report said: "Although the building is locally valued, it does not meet the threshold for heritage significance, and there is no policy basis requiring its preservation."

Historic England's assessment contradicted Mr Abbott's belief that Hiawatha dated from the 15th century, concluding the property was most likely constructed between 1840 and 1868.

The heritage body determined that the building neither illustrated a significant aspect of national history nor possessed associations with important individuals, groups or events.

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