The long running saga of Sladnor Park has taken yet another bizarre turn with the secluded and now established nature reserve being shunted once more onto the open market.
The decision to ‘abandon ship’ seems to have coincided with Torbay council’s surprise decision to remove Sladnor Park from the housing quotas open for delivery to central government. (See also: Herald Express)
Natural England had previously lodged objections to the ‘over-development’ of the site which they believed would be detrimental to the protection of endangered wildlife species such as greater and lesser horseshoe bats which are established within Sladnor Park.
This objection conflicted with the present owners, who had, in fact, been pressing for even more development than had been previously agreed with Torbay council.
To add weight to their objections, Natural England have also been in contact with the European Commission for the protection of endangered species.
The present owners of Sladnor Park are Richmond Torquay (Jersey) Ltd, who, strangely, have no connection with Richmond Villages Group despite the coincidental similarities in the names.
Richmond Villages Group – a firm specialising in Luxury Retirement Villages, owned Sladnor Park from 2006 till July 2013. The group was acquired by the international healthcare giant, BUPA, on August 19th 2013.
During this process, BUPA shareholders had allegedly voted in favour of the acquisition of Richmond Villages Group but without Sladnor Park.
Sladnor Park was subsequently acquired by Richmond Torquay (Jersey) Ltd – a company which was only formed in July 2013 – one month before the acquisition of Richmond Villages.
Sladnor Park sale
The Sladnor Park site sale is to be sold by private treaty and there is no guide price. The vendor is seeking offers which are unconditional in respect of planning permission.
A dialogue is ongoing between the vendor and Torbay council. Richmond Torquay (Jersey) Ltd has enlisted the services of a QC in an attempt to maintain the value of their holding in Sladnor Park.
Since its sell-off in 1988, Sladnor Park has so far proved to be an intensely disputed and fought over ‘Development Too Far’.
The statement that ‘Sladnor Park is not being developed to its full potential’ appears to indicate a desire by the current owners to generate a return on their investment rather than protecting the environment.
Further reading
Sladnor Park: Information, timeline and facts (The only comprehensive overview of Sladnor Park by the Maidencombe Community Group)
Sladnor Park Public Consultation in Orestone Manor 2007 (stating that “building work at Sladnor Park is scheduled to commence during summer 2008 with completion towards the end of 2010”)
For more information about the latest developments, email info@maidencombeunity.org