Kirstie Allsopp's old home in Wiltshire planning row

Vern Leaze is a Grade II* building of “national significance”, located off Silver Street in Calne, that was valued at £3.5 million in 2021.

The 11-bedroom manor was once owned by Charles Allsopp, 6th Baron Hindlip, who is known by many for being the father of Channel 4’s Location, Location, Location presenter Kirstie Allsopp.

Mr Allsopp, who wielded the gavel in the record-breaking £24.75 million auction of Van Gogh’s Sunflowers in 1987, is reported to have sold the property in the early 80s.

The expensive property has been drawn into a planning row as it neighbours a site earmarked for 170 homes and a medical centre at Wenhill.

Developer CG Fry & Son has submitted detailed plans explaining how it will reduce the impact of a large housing estate on the setting of the historic house.

Plans for the new homes (Image: CG Fry & Son) This has included setting the new homes back from the property and creating a “substantial green buffer.”

A design and access statement said: “Grade II* listed buildings are considered to be of national significance and we have taken care to design the proposed development in such a way that it protects the building and its setting.

“A key part of this is the retention of a large area in the southern part of the development as a parkland style open space.

“This was formerly an area of parkland around the historic house; however, it has lost many of the historic trees that were once part of it.”

When do you need planning permission?

The plans have already caused a heated row in Calne with a petition against the development launched before a formal planning application was even submitted.

At the time, residents voiced concerns about the impact on traffic and the loss of green space.

Becky Amor said: “The town is already gridlocked most of the time due to the volume of traffic and Silver Street is particularly bad, so to have another 170 cars is complete madness.”

Mellissa Freeman added: “This is far too many houses for this area… Calne is already bursting at the seams.”

CG Fry & Son insists the site is “an ideal urban expansion to the west of Calne” that has been allocated in the Local Plan.

The firm added: “Our aim is to provide an individually designed scheme with a sense of place, which will cherish local distinctiveness, and provide an attractive, comfortable, and safe place to live for its occupants.”