Sherborne House could become arts and entertainment centre
Dorset Council planners will decide today whether to give new life to the historic building
The go-ahead is expected to be given today (Tuesday) to transform the historic Sherborne House into an arts and entertainment centre.
Dorset Council’s area planning committee is being asked to approve an application which allows the repair and extension of the grade one listed building at Newland, Sherborne.
It includes space to stage events and exhibitions, some business use, and to provide a restaurant.
The building, which dates back to the 1720s, is on the Historic England Buildings at Risk register and was last used by Lord Digby’s girls school in 1992 having been bought by the former Dorset County Council in the 1930s.
Councillors will be told that allowing the conversion and new additions will give “significant public benefit” and regenerate an under-used site, protecting the building and its associated coach house for the future.
History of Sherborne House
The Friends of Sherborne House group have been campaigning for two decades to bring the building back into use.
A report to the area planning committee says that the building has suffered from a lack of investment and has been left in need of considerable repair.
After the school closed an Arts Trust was set up in the mid-1990s but failed to raise enough to establish a viable arts centre. The site was then bought by the Sherborne House Trust 2018 which now proposes the ground floor rooms to be used for exhibition space, for private, corporate and community events and the second floor to be converted to flexible office and working space.
What do the new plans for Sherborne House involve?
A large, contemporary extension is proposed to the north of the site to create a courtyard to the rear of the Tudor wing, providing further exhibition and events space. The Tudor and Digby wings to the west will house a bistro, café and associated storage, kitchen and plant room. Also proposed is a new entrance canopy to the front linking the Tudor Wing to the main house. The Tudor Wing and Coach House will be converted to a café/restaurant.
Sherborne town council has welcomed the proposals although is questioning what it sees as the lack of a comprehensive business plan and a suitable plan to deal with traffic management. It has also raised concerns about the loss of some trees. Town councillors are also concerned about the effects the new centre may have on the council-run Digby Hall.
Several neighbours have raised concerns about the potential for additional noise and disturbance with some saying they are concerned about overlooking and the protection of a wall adjoining their homes.
Council officers are recommending approval of the scheme which they say will benefit the town and the long-term future of an at risk building.