Cowdray Estate plans to relocate main office to grade II listed Midhurst building

A planning application seeking permission to refurbish the interior of the building in North Street, Midhurst, to provide office space has been submitted to the South Downs National Park Authority.

The proposal also involves the refurbishment and repair of the roof.

According to the application, the plans would preserve ’the significance and unique heritage values of the structure and its surroundings’.

The Cowdray Estate currently employs approximately 200 members of staff, which increases to upwards of 350 during the peak summer season.

Of these staff members, 90 per cent live within a 10 mile radius of Midhurst.

A spokesman said: “The Estate has evolved and diversified significantly over recent years and as a result we have out grown our current Estate Office in Easebourne.

“Our aspiration is therefore to relocate the Estate Office to Capron House which will provide additional space for the management and administrative teams together with departments who currently cannot be accommodated in the Estate Office due to lack of space.

“Whilst sad to be leaving Easebourne we are looking forward to being in the centre of Midhurst and have been touched by the many comments of support and welcome to us becoming part of the town.”

The first floor of Capron House is currently divided into a large number of individual office units, which had formerly been used by separate businesses – including this newspaper.

The second floor is currently unused and in ‘a poor state of repair’, according to the planning application.

Alterations will be made to the interior of the building in order to create an ‘open plan and lighter feeling office’ space.

The building, whose central red brick core dates to the 17th century, was the home of Midhurst Grammar School for many years.

To see the plans in full, visit the South Downs National Authority planning page and search for reference SDNP/20/01166/LIS

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