‘When I ask what use the council would like to see - I just get blank looks...’
A GRADE I listed castle in the Staffordshire Moorlands could fall into ruin after plans to enable companies to film there and host schoolchildren and other day visitors were thrown out.
Caverswall Castle, which was built in the 17th century, is one of the last remaining habitable moated castles in England and boasts its own dungeon, turrets and chapel.
But ever since property tycoon Robin Macdonald bought the historic venue, he has been embroiled in more than a decade’s worth of planning battles with Staffordshire Moorlands District Council.
Receivers were brought in last year and the castle was put up for sale, although no buyer has yet been found.
Now the local authority’s planning applications committee has refused the latest proposals.
Mr Macdonald applied for permission to allow private guests and other visitors to take photos and films as a record of their visit. It would also have meant commercial companies could film there.
Back in 2008, an enforcement notice was served, requiring the owner to cease using the premises for functions, events and as a ‘film location’ without planning permission.
Planning committee member, Councillor Peter Wilkinson, said that many stately homes in the country have agreements for commercial use.
He said: “This is a very important building. It is so sad that it will fall into ruin. It does need commercial use to maintain it. People can’t go around it.
“We should find a way forward, or noone will take it on. We need a resolution, I do not want it to go into ruin.”
Councillor Ben Emery said: “This is a sad situation at Caverswall Castle. It has got potential. It can’t have film sets parties or weddings.
“One option is to sell up to someone like the National Trust to bring it up to a high standard.”
Now in a strongly worded email to the council, Mr Macdonald has accused SMDC of ‘deliberate planning obstruction’ over a period of years.
He said: “The property is unsellable and is now unviable commercially. Given the choice, I would not even buy it for £1.”
His latest attempt to generate funding for the castle’s upkeep comes after he applied in 2017 to use it as a hotel and meeting venue. The work was due to involve demolishing the swimming pool, creating a new car park and extending an outbuilding to provide covered parking.
That application was approved at the time, but with a condition that the owner sign an undertaking to use part of the profits to repair the heritage asset.
Due to receivers being appointed, the planning permission has been lying in limbo because the undertaking hasn’t been signed by all the relevant parties.
The committee was asked to effectively overturn its original decision and refuse permission for the hotel and car park. But listed building consent would still be allowed for alterations to the outbuilding..
Mr Macdonald’s email added: “I cannot accept the current S106 for either the hotel use or agree to an S106
for photography/filming use as the restrictions make the operation of such use completely unviable.
“Especially considering that the enforcement notices, after many requests, will not be removed. Any operator will therefore be constantly operating in fear of prosecution or at a loss.
“This was exactly the same problem with the approved wellbeing retreat use.
“I was yet again threatened with prosecution for a holiday letting last year just because they wanted to play a board game.
“I have tried to discuss multiple other uses for the castle and uses in the grounds – such as camping, glamping, holiday pods etc.
“Every single approach for an alternative use has been met with a resounding no. Yet when asked what use the council would like to see, I just get blank looks and shrugged shoulders.
“After 14 years of living with unending harassment from neighbours, enforcement officers, solicitors and others, it’s obvious that no commercial use, no matter how benign, is going to happen whilst I own the castle.
“Even by your own report in 2016 it now requires in excess of £2m worth of investment to bring it into a viable condition to operate commercially.
“No-one is going to buy it and invest that sort of money now. It is not a viable domestic residence, and hasn’t been for nearly 100 years.
“All I have wanted to do was look after this beautiful building, but that requires a commercial use. That is obvious. What else is obvious is that clearly this has just been a personal vendetta.
“Why you have been so obstructive to me for all these years and caused so much harm to the only Grade I listed building in Moorlands, only you can answer.”