Nottingham Post

Chance to build a ‘Grand Designs’ home

DERELICT HOUSE WITH VIEWS OF NATURE RESERVE AND PLANNING PERMISSION FOR ‘ECO HOME’ UP FOR AUCTION

- By BEN REID

A DERELICT house overlookin­g Attenborou­gh Nature Reserve is to be sold at auction next month.

Auctioneer­s describe it as a “Grand Designs”-style opportunit­y, as the land comes with planning permission to demolish the house and build a modern eco-home.

The gatehouse in Barton Lane, Attenborou­gh, will be one of the star lots in an auction at Nottingham Racecourse on Thursday, October 25.

The derelict 100-year-old railway building sits on a large plot of land adjacent to a level crossing at the entrance to the nature reserve. It comes with planning permission for a three-bedroom detached house.

The new property will be unique and contempora­ry in design according to Nick Trow, commercial valuer at SDL Auctions Graham Penny.

He said: “It’s sometimes too easy to reach for the ‘Grand Designs’ cliches, but this property certainly fits the bill.

“This is a very unusual lot as it serves up an excellent opportunit­y to acquire a spectacula­r family home with the hard work already done.”

SDL Auctions said plans drawn up for the house include an entrance hall leading into an open-plan space combining a kitchen, living and dining room which leads out on to a large patio area.

The first floor will have three large double bedrooms, all with en-suite bathrooms and south-facing balconies overlookin­g the nature reserve.

The guide price, which is for the existing site only, is £136,000.

After plans for the house were revaled in November last year, Attenborou­gh Nature Centre manager Tim Sexton said: “As far as we are aware they are building an ecodwellin­g which is in line with the reserve. It isn’t going to affect the wildlife and we believe it will be a benefit to the area.

“Anything that makes a more pleasant entry to the reserve can only be a good thing.

“It has been falling into disrepair for the last 10 to 15 years and it will be sad to see the old railway-style building go in some ways.

“From a nature reserve point of view we think the project is a good thing.”

It serves up an excellent opportunit­y to acquire a spectacula­r family home with the hard work already done.

Nick Trow

 ??  ?? The derelict Gatehouse in Barton Lane. The sale at auction comes with planning permission to demolish the building and build a modern home on the site. Inset, an artist’s drawing of the plans previously published in the Post.
The derelict Gatehouse in Barton Lane. The sale at auction comes with planning permission to demolish the building and build a modern home on the site. Inset, an artist’s drawing of the plans previously published in the Post.

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