stanmer study - recommendations

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Stanmer Park Historic Landscape Survey and Restoration Management Plan

Introduction | The Significance of Stanmer | The Need for a Detailed Plan | Aims of the Study and Plan | Conclusions of the Study | Recommendations of the Study | Implementation and Funding

Recommendations of the Study

The main recommendations in the Consultation draft are: 

•  the management of the estate should seek to re-establish the broad layout, visual qualities and character of the 18th Century landscape, whilst accommodating, as far as possible, the existing uses which are current today;
• any new development within the study area should be demonstrably beneficial to the aesthetic and ecological quality of the landscape;
• to rationalise the management of the estate under the control of one body with sole responsibility for its management and its own designated budget;
• to restore the largely intact 18th Century planting scheme and remove most of the post war plantings. Where this is controversial this could be achieved through relocation of trees and/or a long term policy of non-replacement;
• plant substantial additional tree screening around the nursery and the buildings) and depot areas and along the southern boundary with the A27 Bypass;
• concentrate parking at the southern end of the park;
• the focus for events to be at the south end of the park;
• improving the village car park and removing all other public parking in the park;
• restrict traffic within the park (these proposals dovetail with proposals developed by the Countryside Team);
• restrict Nursery area, farm and depot traffic to the West Drive from Ditchling Road;
• reinstate the cricket pitch in front of Stanmer House;
• reintroduce grazing to the central section of the park between Stanmer House's garden and the adjacent cricket pitch and the southern pitches;
• open the grazing areas on the east side of the valley currently on short term tenancies to public access and removing the fence lines;
• extend the network of circular paths and bridleways around the estate and reopen the lane through the nursery area to the public;
• rationalise and tidy up the depot and Council office area and screen it with planting;
• relocate the horticultural college buildings eastwards or into the Walled Garden, and reverting their current site to a grazing paddock;
• create new administrative facilities at a strategic location within the park offering users a single point of contact including visitor and interpretation facilities;
• consider options for accommodating the Countryside Agency's aspirations for a Gateway Centre to the Downs;
• in the event of the historic farm buildings becoming redundant to the needs of agriculture, develop these for educational and recreational uses compatible with the agricultural and countryside management objectives of the estate.