2 Bedroom Cottage for sale

Key features:

• 16th Century building
• Currently used as office
• Planning permission for use as 2 bedroom cottage
• Central village location
• Situated on Village Green
• Short walk to Train Station (Waterloo Line)
• Great project purchase
• Vacant
• Planning reference numbers: 14/02877 & 14/02878

Full description:
The Old Council Office dates back to the 1500s and is an important and unique part of the village street scene and contributes greatly to the overall character of The Green. It is an important part of the group of buildings situated on the Village Green. It was originally built as a house for the Datchet Manor and the census records show it being used as a residential dwelling right up until 1895 when it was converted into offices. The property now has planning permission to restore the former use of an office to a residential dwelling with two bedrooms. Being just a 1 minute' walk to Datchet Train Station (Waterloo Line), the property would make for a great investment or project purchase and comes onto the market as vacant creating the possibility of a quick sale.



Project Overview
The renewal of an existing permission to restore the former use of a betting shop with office to a
residential dwelling with two bedrooms. The building is currently vacant.

In order to achieve the conversion the following alterations/ interventions will be required:
• Like for like repairs to the front elevation only. No change to the overall building form.
• The replacement of an existing door to the side of the property with a rendered panel. Retention of surrounding framework.
• The stripping of the existing dormer fascia and cheek modern felt covering and replacement with
tile hanging to match the main existing roof.
• The installation of internal stud partitions on the ground floor to form a wc and a new lobby area.
• The formation of a new doorway between the existing lounge and the hallway at the bottom of the
stair. It is assumed that a doorway previously existed in this location.
• The installation of a new kitchen and bathroom fittings to replace the existing kitchen and
bathroom fittings, Existing service runs are to be re-used.
• The patio to be re-laid.
• The installation of new timber stud partitions to the first floor to form 2no. Bedrooms and a landing
area. No change proposed to the existing fireplace.
• The installation of new wc fittings to the first floor to replace existing fittings. Existing service runs
to be re-used.
• The existing modern first floor ceiling is to be removed to expose the first floor rafters.

Setting Overview:
The Old Council office is semi detached and lies directly on the Village Green in the centre of
Datchet Village. It forms part of a 16th/17th Century group of buildings built as residential dwellings and
associated with Datchet Manor. The buildings on the Green are a varied mixture of styles and ages
fronting directly onto The Green. The buildings on the Green are mainly 2 and 3 storey utilising the roof spaces and are a mixture of timber framed, render and red brick buildings. The roof lines vary hugely.

Impacted Heritage Assets:
The Old Council House, The Green. Grade II. List number: 1312998
'House now two commercial premises probably mid-late C16 altered and refronted late C19/early C20.
Timber frame, plastered, and front with applied timber framing; clay tile roof. One storey and attic. 1 x 2
bays gable-end to road, with late C19/early C20 side outshut on left under catside roof. On right, shop
front is recessed below jettied 1st floor and has ½ glazed panelled door on right with flanking console
brackets supporting fascia, and 3-light leaded casement similar 1-light window on left; bracketed oriel to
1st floor with 3 x 1 light leaded casements, barge boards; terracotta finial side outshut has 2-light window,
rear; C20 door below sash window with glazing bars, round arched to upper sash. C20 extension of
outshut on right has door leading to upper floor. Interior: On ground floor, large - scantling spine-beam.
Attic has wall plates tie-beams, that at centre cambered and windbraces. Top of one wall post, is visible
decorate cast-iron, fireplace at centre with panelled cupboard door beside. Probably more of the frame
survives behind the internal wall claddings.'

Assessment of Significance:
The Old Council Office is an important and unique part of the village street scene and contributes greatly
to the overall character of The Green. It is an important part of the group of buildings to the South of the
Green. It was originally built as a house for the Datchet Manor and the census records show it being
used as a residential dwelling right up until 1895 when it was converted into offices.
The property is currently split with the ground floor being accessed from the front elevation and the first
floor accessed by a rear door. It is likely that there was formally an opening between the Lounge and
Hallway. The building has been lined out with modern timber studwork on the ground floor and it is likely
that much of the original historic fabric lies beneath. Modern kitchen and bathroom fittings have been
installed in the premise. There is a historic fireplace at the rear on the ground floor which is of an
interesting character.

The age of the staircase to the first floor is unclear since it is currently covered in carpet. On the first floor
the buildings original framework is visible. A modern ceiling has been installed. There is also a modern
wc installation. There is a historic fireplace at the rear on the first floor which is of an interesting character.
Externally the rear yard is of limited size and is overgrown. There is no clear evidence of anything of
historical significance in this area. There are a number of single storey extensions to the rear of the
building which are unlikely to be original. To the side of the property there is a single storey projection
containing a modern dormer which is considered to be a later addition covering the original yard.

Development Impact on the Historical Asset:
Front elevation: The proposals will have no impact on the front elevation or street scene.
Side elevation: The modern dormer is currently unsympathetically covered in modern felt. The proposed
replacement with a tile hanging to match the existing roof is likely to enhance the aesthetics of the
dormer. The removal of the side door and replacement with a rendered panel is unlikely to result in the
loss of historical fabric since the side extension is believed to be a modern addition to the building and not
part of its original structure. There is the option of reinstating a former side door without detriment to the
historic fabric as an alternative entrance should flooding be considered a concern by the Local Authority.
The building was however not impacted in the highest flood levels of 2013.
Rear elevation and yard: The clearing of the existing yard and re-laying of the patio is likely to be a
positive enhancement to the setting of the historic building since the area is currently overgrown and
unused. There is little change to the existing rear elevation bar like for like repairs and general
maintenance such as the repair of the existing roof flashings.

Ground floor internally: The proposed new kitchen and bathroom lie in the positions of existing facilities
so there is likely to be minimal impact from the installation of new fittings. The ground floor fireplace is
being retained in place. The proposed new lobby, providing it is designed to be reversible in nature, will
have no detrimental impact upon the buildings character. The proposed new opening between the
Lounge and Hall is likely to involve the opening up of a former doorway and it is proposed that careful
opening up works take place to establish the impact of this intervention on the historic fabric. Since the
building was originally designed to function as a house, restoring it back from the current office use will be
a positive move, be in accordance with English Heritage Conservation Principles, and require little
intervention.
First floor internally: The proposed new wc lie in the position of existing facilities so there is likely to be
minimal impact from the installation of new fittings. The new first floor partitions, providing they are
freestanding and reversible in nature, will have no detrimental impact upon the buildings character. They
will be freestanding and not fixed back to the original framework of the building. The first floor fireplace is
being retained in place. The ceilings in this area are assumed to be modern additions so their loss to
open up the space will result in no loss of historic fabric.

Since the building was origi