Stockton Council Planning Committee has approved planning permission for a new Rose Garden, Visitor Centre and Cookery School at Wynyard Hall, Stockton, which signals a new £4million investment in the site and the creation of 40 jobs.
The new Rose Garden and Visitor Centre will be housed within the historic walled garden. It is intended that the Rose Garden and Italian Terrace will include the widest range of rose species in the Europe – with a plan to ensure a breathtaking range scent-laden blooms are in place by the end of the planned two-year project.
The single-storey Visitor Centre building with a glazed façade will provide a café and gift shop selling local produce and Wynyard Hall related products.
The new Cookery School will provide a range of teaching rooms and accommodation for up to 12 people with courses and tuition from expert chefs and suppliers planned to take place throughout the year.
Councillor Michael Smith, Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Transport, said: “Wynyard Hall is a successful and thriving local employer and business providing jobs throughout the area and attracting both national and international visitors.
“The application has been given careful and thoughtful consideration. The new buildings and garden will be designed to meet the highest environmental and conservation standards to ensure the preservation of this historic building. The rose garden and new visitor centre will provide an enchanting new visitor attraction for the region.”
Paul Mackings, Chief Executive for Cameron Hall Developments, said: “The new plans stay true to Sir John’s Hall vision which is to create a wonderful space full of roses.
“I can’t emphasis enough at how excited we are about these new plans – we want Wynyard Hall and its grounds to be a place for everyone to enjoy. We intend that the new Rose Garden and Visitor Centre will provide residents with a place to visit and enjoy time and time again.
“Alongside the pure enjoyment of visiting the gardens throughout the year; we also hope that our passion and commitment to providing the widest range of rose species will encourage interest for horticulturists both here and abroad and that, on a wider scale, we will introduce a training centre for excellence in horticulture, food and hospitality.”
The Zebra House – a historic structure which highlights the history of the Londonderry family and zebras being kept on the site – will be refurbished with a glazed link to the Visitor Centre.
A temporary marquee will also be erected within the site to provide additional seating and conference areas for up to 400 guests with a licence for music to be played until 11.30pm with all background music to be finished by 12.30pm.
As part of a full and rigorous planning application process, environmental, conservation, design and archaeological monitoring will take place throughout the development of the site. Plans are also in place to ensure the appropriate protection of trees, wildlife alongside the development of appropriate parking and highways and access improvements.
Planning consultants, England and Lyle, and architects, IDP Partnership (Northern), will work with Wynyard Hall on the development of the Rose Garden and Visitor Centre.
