Luxury apartments planned for grandest home in Harrogate

Millionaire Jason Shaw is hoping to restore the historic 40-room Pineheath to its “former glory” through an ambitious restoration and extension project.

The Cornwall Road property shot to fame in 2014 when its deteriorating interior was revealed to be “frozen in time”, standing empty and untouched for nearly 100 years.

Since purchasing the derelict mansion in 2013, Mr Shaw has vowed to transform Pineheath and believes these “widescale renovation and extension” plans will finally achieve that.

The plans state: “The buildings on site will be completely overhauled and renovated to become one of Harrogate’s most prestigious developments.”

Pineheath’s distinctive cupola would be restored as part of the plans with “poor quality” later additions to the building taken down and rebuilt.

The building will be extended to the rear with the main house boasting a gym, billiards room, library and steam room in the basement.

The greenhouse will be demolished and the building “completely renovated” to create the final two three-bedroom apartments.

A spokesperson for Townscape Architects LTD, said they were “delighted” with the plans but realised it was a “sensitive site.”

Mr Shaw has previously submitted a number of plans for the site, with many of these raising concerns and controversy from the Duchy Residents' Association (DRA).

In 2014, he revealed that he was planning on selling Pineheath for £2.5m after applying to build two semi-detached houses in its grounds.

Despite the application being refused, Mr Shaw was fined £24,000 in July that year for illegally chopping down trees to make way for the new buildings.

In February last year, further plans were revealed to build two four-storey houses in the grounds instead, with five bedrooms, gyms, games rooms and garages.

The plans were refused once again by Harrogate Borough Council but, in October last year, plans were approved to restore and extend the property.

Rebecca Oliver, secretary of the DRA, admitted they had been “concerned” about Pineheath’s state for some time but welcomed any proposal to retain the house.

She said: “Our main concern was that the old house would be demolished to make way for apartments.

“So, while we are worried that the conversion into apartments would lead to more traffic on Cornwall Road, at least this application proposes to retain the house which has been a landmark building on the Duchy Estate for many years.

"Ultimately the planners must decide if this application is appropriate and meets the Conservation Area objectives.

"The Duchy Residents' Association will discuss the plans with immediate neighbours as appropriate and submit a representation to the planning department with any comments in the next few weeks."