Thornbridge Estate has this week won a monumental planning appeal after a nearly two-year-long battle for victory.
It was slapped with an enforcement notice from the PDNPA in May 2021 after agreeing they could apply for retrospective planning permission on the grounds. Today, after help from the best planning experts and barrister, everyone from Thornbridge can breathe a long-awaited sigh of relief.
Emma and Jim Harrison, who brought the Grade II listed stately home back in 2002 when it was in a ‘dire’ condition, have committed the past two decades of their lives and £20 million of their own money to restoring the estate and are overjoyed with the outcome of the appeal.
“When I heard the news I cried,” Emma said. “Then, I got busy making sure the thousands of people who love Thornbridge hear the great news.” Her husband Jim added that he is “delighted to see the successful end to an unnecessary process”.
Thornbridge holds a special sentiment to Emma in particular. She first visited the grounds supported by her social worker when she was merely 15 years old and today considers it an experience that transformed her life. Now, she and Jim dedicate their lives to replicating that feeling for others, turning it into ‘the quirkiest stately home in the UK’.
The couple made history, being the first to throw open the doors of Thornbridge to the public, making it fully accessible all year round. They have been flooded with messages of support from people who are passionate about the estate and can now be excited for the future.
Managing director Olivia Cridland said: “So pleased that the fantastic public benefits have been recognised and we can now focus our efforts on the future rather than the appeal process.”
The developments the Harrisons have made have not only created jobs, but have cemented Thornbridge as a must-visit destination in the heart of the Peak District.
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