Newark and Sherwood District Council has confirmed that works are finally set to start at Ollerton Hall.
A set of keys was handed over last week to Severns (Ollerton) Limited who will soon begin work to sympathetically restore and transform the hall into 8 apartments.
The Grade II* listed hall is thought to be around 300 years old and has lain vacant for the past 50. A previous developer’s plans to develop the site into a care home never came to fruition and the site was re-acquired by the District Council in 2016 in order to seek a developer who would do justice to this important building.
An agreement was made with Severns in 2021 that they would formulate and submit respectful plans for the site, maintaining its historic character and architectural features. After being carefully prepared, these were met with unanimous acceptance by members of the District Council’s planning committee last year.
Councillor Paul Peacock, Leader of Newark and Sherwood District Council, said: “It was very important to us that plans for this beautiful place were respectful and protective.
“We’re really reassured that it’s now in the hands of people who have previous experience in doing fantastic work with heritage buildings and I’m looking forward to seeing the building brought back to life in a way that retains its integrity while bringing it up to date in terms of safety and practicality.”
Councillor Lee Brazier, Portfolio Holder for Housing at the District Council, said: “We know that this has been a long time coming and we’re really happy to finally be getting it over the line so that work can begin. As an Ollerton local, this building means a lot to me; it’s the gateway to the town and it’s been so upsetting for all of us to see it go unused.
“It really is wonderful news that this stunning building will be returned to some of its former glory and shown the care and deference it deserves and I know I share your excitement to see Ollerton Hall looking amazing again!”
A heritage consultant was brought in who outlined some important conservation work which will be carried out first and the District Council will retain ownership of the property until this initial work is complete.
This is expected to take around 5 months and the District Council will be appointing a Conservation Clerk of Works who will be conducting regular visits during this time to ensure that the work is being carried out to a satisfactory level.
