THE next phase in the redevelopment of the fire damaged historic Parnham House estate is out for public consultation.

The latest proposals are for changes to the Dower House at one of the estate entrances – including building a near-identical house opposite.

Recently approved plans for the estate have included holiday lodges in the grounds.

The new proposals include changes and part demolition of some buildings and sections of the Dower House and associated buildings and adding a new swimming pool and pool house for the proposed new building which will be used as a holiday let.

The changes are part of an ongoing process to improve the commercial opportunities to help pay for the restoration of the main house and stables during a blaze in April 2017.

Public comments on the new proposals, which run to many pages, remain open until October 27 on the Dorset Council planning website.

The Dower House, also known as The Lodge, is at the entrance to the east drive to Parnham Park off the A3066 and is a listed, grade two, building.

Architects, Purcells, acting for estate owner, James Perkins, say a number of changes are planned for the property – on the ground floor the kitchen area is to be re-planned and modernised.

Structural changes include the removal of parts of the wall between the existing kitchen and the courtyard to create a more open plan internally.

The courtyard will be infilled with a new roof structure, the eastern extent of the kitchen covered with a pitched slate roof and a smaller leaded flat-roofed section to the rear.

The existing utility room in a low-roofed rear wing is to be removed, and the kitchen will connect via three new openings to a new single-storey extension containing bedroom suite with an accessible bathroom, a separate WC, storage room and laundry/boot room.

Several non-original features are also to be removed, if permission is given, including a timber-framed conservatory, the flat-roofed boiler room and the rear garage. No changes are proposed to the principal ground floor rooms in the house, to the staircase or upper floor layout.

It is proposed that a new ‘mirrored’ Lodge will occupy the space opposite the existing Lodge across the driveway. The new building is proposed to match the existing character and details of the original Lodge and be similar in footprint and scale.