The application to build a housing estate on the parklands and adjoining meadow at Parnham has been submitted but not yet validated, which means residents can’t see the plans or submit their comments until the council officially posts them online.
However, events at Clandon Park House – as reported in The Times https://www.thetimes.com/article/032a5307-50b2-4232-892e-082b9f5c47d7?shareToken=34a63b806bce2fdd8733610d0a7bf88d offer a timely parallel.
Both sites share a tragic history of fire damage and the same fundamental question: how should a nation treat its great houses when loss and modern realities collide?
The National Trust’s controversial plans for Clandon – to preserve the Grade I-listed mansion as a managed ruin rather than rebuild it – have now cleared their final hurdle.
Since the devastating 2015 fire, opinion has been divided between those who wanted a faithful reconstruction and those who saw greater value in embracing the ruin as a place for reflection, performance and public engagement. (Sound familiar?)
The National Trust maintains that rebuilding would be “replication rather than restoration”, opting instead for modern interventions – floating walkways, a new roof terrace, and flexible exhibition spaces – designed to connect visitors to what remains.
Housing secretary Steve Reed has declined to ‘call in’ the scheme for further review, meaning the Trust can proceed with its vision to stabilise and reinterpret the fire-ravaged Palladian masterpiece. Opponents, including members of the Onslow family and heritage bodies such as the Georgian Group, argue that the approach shows a “poverty of ambition” and could set a worrying precedent for other listed estates.
They also voiced concern that such a significant national heritage issue was decided solely by local councillors, without public inquiry or ministerial oversight.
That last point resonates for those engaged in the Parnham debate. Beaminster and Netherbury residents fear that key decisions about natural heritage of national importance may again rest entirely with local authorities, whose focus must also encompass housing targets, budgets and community impact.
The story of Clandon Park highlights a broader truth for Parnham and beyond: finding the right balance between preservation and progress is rarely simple.