Council responds to plans to erect a gate at Odiham hunting lodge

In 2022 dozens of people, including top interior designers, objected to retrospective plans to install gates around the grade II listed King Henry’s Hunting Lodge, in Bagwell Lane, Odiham and turn it into what they said would be a “high security compound”.

An application was submitted at the time to Hart District Council by tenant Francis Sultana asking for permission to replace fencing, lighting and security cameras at the lodge.

This application was later withdrawn and another similar application was submitted last year, which was granted permission in October 2023 to replace failed fencing, install security cameras and lighting, and dismantle and rebuild a like-for-like pavilion and greenhouse.

READ MORE: More than 70 object to Odiham Hunting Lodge security plans

Now, a retrospective application for timber gates and the redesign of a metal gate behind the historic timber white gate at the lodge has been submitted.

A decision on the plans is yet to be made, however, an opinion has been given by the council stating: “The principal elevation of the Hunting lodge is a significant feature of the listed building and is a focal point within the designed landscape and established views. A proposal which detracts from or hinders this view would have a substantial impact on how the listed building is experienced, eroding the heritage assets relationship with the landscape.”

The pre-application seeks advice on erecting a secondary gate behind the existing decorative timber gate in excess of 1.8m height to restrict access to deer to the hunting lodge grounds.

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The council said: “It has not been demonstrated within the information submitted within the pre-application that a secondary gate at the Pond Gate entrance could be erected without interrupting or detracting from this significant feature.

“The height required for this secondary gate in order to be effective against deer entering the site would have a significant negative impact which would not be considered acceptable.”

At a meeting held with the council, the applicant said they would submit further drawings to “hopefully overcome this”. However, no further information or drawings have yet been received.

The previous plans which have now been granted were criticised by top interior designers including Jasper Conran, who were outranged by the proposals for the lodge, believed to have been built in the 18th century and which became an emblem for English country house design through renowned decorator John Fowler, who moved into the house in 1947, and Nicky Haslam, who lived there until 2019.