A historic hotel could be converted into new homes in an effort to give it a new lease of life.

De Rougemont Manor, in Great Warley, could be converted into as many as 48 new homes if plans unveiled by owners, the Hilton family, are approved.

The landmark building has previously operated as a nightclub, hotel, restaurant, wedding venue and function suite.

But the Hilton family says it is no longer viable to run it as a hotel and are working with developer Redington Capital on plans to convert it into homes.

The proposals would see the original ‘Goldings’ building retained and turned into 18 apartments. The adjacent stables would be converted into four houses, with another 26 homes being built to the back of the site.

Clacton and Frinton Gazette: How the new houses could look once built at the back of the siteHow the new houses could look once built at the back of the site

The Hilton family say the conversion into homes will ensure the original 146-year-old Tudor-style ‘Goldings’ building is not flattened.

Jason Hilton said: “‘We have been approached by a number of developers and hospitality companies all of which wanted to rip the heart and soul out of the building and seemed to have no regard for its important history.

“Instead, we’ve partnered with Redington on the basis that they are preserving and enhancing the original integrity of De Rougemont and the Heseltine family legacy.

“We want to be able to drive past in the future and remain proud of what we built here over a fifty-year period’.

‘We feel passionately that providing good housing here for local people once again, sympathetically done, must be the Hilton legacy too”.

Clacton and Frinton Gazette: How the hotel looked in its original formHow the hotel looked in its original form

De Rougemont Manor spent the first 93 years of its life as a home to ‘Brentwood gentry’ - the well-heeled Heseltine family and their 40 staff.

Under the conversion proposals, the original clock-tower will refurbished and retained; and a large swathe of contaminated land and Japanese Knotweed removed.

David Burne of Redington Capital said: “We’re extremely excited at the opportunity to convert the De Rougemont in-keeping with it’s heritage and to ensure that there are a number of benefits to the area.”

Brentwood Council will have the final say on the plans.

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