A marquee restaurant, new car park and six ‘orchard room’ holiday units have been approved at Parnham House.

The Dorset Council  area planning committee heard pleas for a masterplan for future developments, rather than piecemeal applications.

Richard Smith from the Parnham Planning Response Group said it was disappointing that there appeared to be no clear, written, vision or timescale for future developments which, he said, included proposals for 36 new buildings in the park.

He questioned why, given the scale of the redevelopment, Dorset Council had not classified the project as a ‘major development’ which would ensure a more comprehensive strategic approach.

Mr Smith said his group acknowledged the intent to create a hotel and lodge accommodation on the site and was critical about the level of local consultation over the proposals.

Beaminster ward councillor Rebecca Knox said it was acknowledged, and appreciated, that the Perkins family had already spent millions of pounds at Parnham since the catastrophic 2017 fire which had virtually gutted the listed 16th century building.

She said most people understood that the family would need to find income streams to support the restoration work and that eventually the house and grounds would be opened to the public, which it never had been before.

“It’s just great that the Perkins family are still with us and just great that we’ve got something going on at the park again…the balance is that things need to be done to deliver back its former beauty which will benefit us all, both county-wide and nationally,” she said.

Project manager at Parnham Park, Ed Grant, said the business plans being developed would not only see the gates opening to the public but would also support food and drink producers and other business in the immediate area and county-wide.

He said, despite the claims, there had been extensive consultations about the estate’s proposals.

Beaminster town councillor Chris Turner told the meeting that while there was general support from the town about the re-development there was a need to push back the speed limit on the A3066 northern entrance to give traffic more time to slow down.

He also appealed for a masterplan which he said would not only save time, but expense, for the owners.

The six holiday lets, proposed for the orchard, will each have a single bedroom and outdoor bathroom and will be clad in timber. A glazed link will lead from the bedroom to a ‘bathroom pod’ at the rear.

Historic England has objected to the units and said it would like to see a comprehensive solution to restore and reuse Parnham House, a view shared by Dorset Council’s Landscape Officer.