Share Princess Royal’s lake for £700,000

A GEORGIAN boathouse which stands near the Princess Royal’s estate has been put up for sale for £700,000, with the buyer in line to gain an equal share of her lake.

The 185-year-old lakeside property neighbours the Princess’s Gatcombe Park Estate, near Tetbury, Glos.

The boathouse, which is set in nine acres of woodland, has become available to buy for £700,000, and includes half of 12-acre Gatcombe Water plus full fishing rights with trout stocks in the man-made lake.

The other six acres is owned by the Gatcombe Park Estate, the country residence bought by the Queen in the Seventies as a gift for her daughter. The boathouse is owned by an Australian businessman, who estate agents said bought it as a retreat almost 10 years ago but whose plans to convert it into a family home lapsed.

It is currently used as a fishing club hut.

Rupert Sturgis, a partner in the Tetbury office at Knight Frank, said: “The famous architect John Pawson came up with the design, but the planning has lapsed and it’s back on the market. It will be breathtaking. It could be a retreat for someone looking to escape and enjoy the tranquillity.

“It would also suit a fishing fan, but it is large enough for a local person wanting a full-time family home.” The lapsed planning permission was granted for a family house with three bedrooms – all with en-suite bathrooms – a lounge, kitchen, open-plan living room and dining area with a covered balcony.

Fresh plans have been submitted to convert the boathouse into a four bedroom “contemporary design which is complementary to the old boat house”.

Cotswold district council is expected to make a decision on the plans at the end of the month.

Mr Sturgis added: “I’ve been doing this for a long time and I’ve never seen anything like it. It is a magical setting and we’ve already had a lot of interest in it.”

The Georgian boathouse on Gatcombe Water, which comes with a half-share in the lake whose other owner is the Princess Royal, right