Ingestre Orangery ready for £1.3m revamp after proposals backed

The Friends of Ingestre Orangery want to breath new life into the Grade II listed building, that dates back to 1840, by turning it into a community centre after it fell to disrepair in the last 20 or 30 years.

They have already been granted planning permission by Stafford Borough Council to restore the building but they want to change its use.

The decision is set to go to Stafford Borough Council on Wednesday. Officers have recommended the plans are given the go-ahead, but councillors have concerns over traffic and noise.

Ward councillor Frances Beatty said: "It is a hugely important building and needs a new life and so the aims for the Orangery are admirable.

"But there are divided opinions in the local community whether it will create more traffic.

"We do not want the change of use to open the doors to something people do not want and something that will be noise. The noise levels need to be kept manageable for neighbours."

If the plans get the green light, the group hope to add a car park along with an extension with toilets and kitchen facilities plus it will undergo restoration work.

The scheme is partly funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund which will be contributing £1million to the restoration.

It is hoped that if it opens as a community centre, it will host community events, private hire events alongside other functions.

It is also hoped that it can be used for wedding receptions because it is on the same lane as Ingestre Hall, which is owned by Sandwell Council, where weddings are often held.

Ingestre is located between Great Haywood and Tixall.

The Orangery, which falls into the Ingestre Conservation Area, was originally used to grow fruit plants but it has not been used for that for at least 40 years.

The group will begin work in March if they get the green light for the plans, in the hope its doors will open in September.