New Woodland Play Area and Visitor Centre at Helmingham Hall

Evolution Town Planning has advised and assisted the Helmingham Hall Estate in Suffolk gain planning consent for a large woodland play area, visitor centre and café, and new car park. The play area is an elaborate and exciting design similar to those found at other historic houses in England such as Holkham Hall in Norfolk, Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire and Burghley House in Lincolnshire. The development includes the conversion of a Grade II Listed Barn into a café and visitor centre, and the creation of a new car park.

The project was challenging because of the rural location of the site which required a clear highways assessment to justify the development. Helmingham Hall, its parkland and the barn are important heritage assets and great care was needed in the design to ensure that these assets were protected.

The barn and car park are in open countryside so a careful landscaping scheme was required to ensure that the character of the area was protected. A thorough assessment of the woodland site for the proposed play area was undertaken to ensure that the Local Planning Authority was confident that the woodland would be protected.

The Helmingham Estate takes great care of its natural landscape and has therefore an abundance of wildlife. High quality surveys undertaken in good time informed the design of the development which ensured that the project was not constrained by ecology issues.

It has been a fascinating and rewarding project and wonderful to be involved with the next stage in the development of the Hall and Estate.

It is anticipated the new venture will be a great addition to the existing offerings at the Estate attracting new multi-generational visitors to experience and enjoy the historic buildings and landscape.