Historic Ditton Manor could be converted into hotel

Ditton Manor, near Datchet, could be set for 132 hotel rooms as part of a sweep of developments taking place on the grade II-listed estate – if the council agrees.

The site features a historic manor house with a moat surrounding it on all sides and ‘extensive’ landscaped gardens and parkland.

Its history includes its use as a radio research centre from the 1930s through to the late 1970s when it was Crown Land.

Since 2019, the primary use of the site has been as a conference centre. These facilities are only in the ground floor of the Manor House and Southern Gatehouse.

This scheme is claimed to be ‘a high-quality and sympathetically designed’ 132-bed hotel development.

It will change the use of the Manor House to a hotel with 33 rooms, as well as a new two-storey hotel block with 99 rooms.

Included in this complex will be a restaurant, bar and conference rooms, gym and spa.

Currently on the site are small clusters of residential dwellings and an area of ‘poor-quality’ grassland interspersed with large areas of hardstanding, used as overflow car parking.

The entire site is a grade II-listed park and garden and it contains several grade II-listed structures: The Manor House, courtyard walls, stable and gatehouse blocks, garden walls and summer house, main gatehouse and bridge.

The existing buildings ‘need considerable repair and renovation’ – claims Studio Moren, on behalf of applicants Ditton Park Property Unit Trust.

This development will help preserve and enhance its historical interest – which will give it ‘long-term viability’.

The existing ‘derelict’ chapel is to be restored to use for weddings and events, while the prefabricated hut used by 1st Datchet Sea Scouts will be replaced ‘with a quality design fit for purpose’ and relocated ‘to create a safer children’s environment.’

The landscape will be enhanced, with the aspiration to increase biodiversity, while removing gates to open up the parkland to public access.

Although most work relates to existing buildings, there are two key areas of new built development: the hotel block with 99 bedrooms, and the gym and studio space.

The new block will be a two-storey ‘L’ shape, which allows for a new courtyard and garden – and will connect to the Manor House via a new ground floor glazed link.

It will have a ‘garden wall’ façade ‘to evoke the garden walls in the park’ and a flat roof to accommodate a green roof and solar panels.

There is also set to be a green roof on the gym, which is a back of house extension to the Manor House. Its low height will ensure it is screened by the surrounding woodland, Studio Moren say.

The Manor House will remain the tallest building on site, ‘reflecting its status as the main and most important building.’

Plans also include refurbishing the Northern Gatehouse to provide a spa.

A ‘woodland car park’ will be placed at the existing overflow parking area. There will be 198 spaces; nine are accessible, with 48 have electric vehicle charging points.

Cycle parking is not included here, although 32 cycle parking spaces will be adjacent to the Granary.

Vehicle access will be via Creak Cottage, a gated private street accessed via Ditton Park Road. There are no changes proposed. However, there will be improvements to the network of paths running through the site.

The land is on the greenbelt – so to demonstrate very special circumstances, Studio Moren wrote that the scheme ‘would in fact give rise to heritage benefits’.

It would ‘enhance both the understanding and appreciation of the historic interest of the park and house,’ they wrote.

To see all documents, enter reference 23/01063/LBC into the Royal Borough’s planning portal.