Millionaire's to raze Victorian mansion & replace it with new-build (2024)

A MILLIONAIRE couple is set to knock down their £5million Victorian mansion after their plan to replace it with a Grand Designs-style newbuild was approved, council docs have revealed.

Euan and Harriet O'Sullivan want to replace the "enchanting" 1900s mansion with a modern six-bedroom brick and flint home.

The Victorian Society, campaigning to preserve historic 19th-Century buildings, has slammed the couple's plan to rebuild.

Despite this, the works are set to go ahead with thewealthypair employing McLean Quinlan Architects - the masterminds behind several homes on Channel 4's Grand Designs show - to build their new home.

The six-bedroom mansion, Apuldram House, sits on the water at Dell Quay in Chichester.

The O'Sullivans bought the late Victorian house for just under £5million in 2020.

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"Their decision to grant permission in this case is confusing and weakens our confidence in Chichester District Council to make the right decisions concerning historic buildings."

LOCAL FURY

One local, David Moore, called for the house to be refurbished instead.

He added: "Apuldram House is well suited to its surroundings and could be preserved and refurbished with considerably less environmental impact than that caused by demolition and rebuilding."

Others claimed the demolition was "not culturally or environmentally justifiable".

Stunning Gothic mansion made famous on BBC's Home of the Year up for sale... and it has very famous links

Harriet revealed the family just want to "built a home for our young family which is responsive to our needs, as well as the unique and beautiful setting of the plot".

Her husband told The Times: "The Victorian Society originally objected to our application on January 31, 2023.

"They applied to Historic England to have the house listed but Historic England rejected the application at initial assessment on April 5, 2023, stating, ‘Apuldram House does not possess the necessary architectural or historical interest necessary for listing’.”

The property was built in the early 1900s and is considered a "non-designated heritage asset".

This means that it doesn't meet the requirements to have planning protection.

We simply want to build a home for our young family which is responsive to our needs, as well as the unique and beautiful setting of the plot
Harriet O’SullivanHomeowner

The O'Sullivans' architects said the couple originally planned to refurbish but decided to demolish and rebuild to utilise the site's energy performance.

The pair's application was approved by planning bosses at Chichester District Council by six votes to four after they learned that "harmful" alteration made to the original design meant its appearance was now "detrimental" to the conservation area.

However, The Society campaigning against the plans refutes this argument and claims the "house existed before the designation of the conservation area".

Council leader Adrian Moss said the new build would be "much more in keeping with the harbour and would be less intrusive in the landscape".

Grand Designs-favourite Mclean Quinlan Architects has been responsible for several modern mansions

One of its properties, Devon Passivhaus was shortlisted for RIBA's House of the Year award.

Mclean Quinlan Architects managed to transform what was once a place for prized cattle into an incredibly high architectural house.

It features ultra-modern floor-to-ceiling windows with a block-style interior.

The Sun has contacted Chichester District Council for comment.

It comes after an unsold underground reservoir that nearly featured on the hit series Grand Designs is set for a major transformation.

FAQs

How much would it cost to build a Victorian mansion today? ›

In the U.S., it costs, on average, $350,000 to build a Victorian-style house. Typically, most homeowners spend between $250,000 and $600,000. The average cost per square foot to build a Victorian-style home is $100 to $200.

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Can you build a new Victorian style house? ›

Yes, you can still build Victorian houses. As stated earlier on this page, Victorian technically refers to a period rather than a style, so any home built in the present day would be in the style of a Victorian house.

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What rooms did Victorian mansions have? ›

The top floor would typically house the servants quarters and the children's rooms with a nursery. The second floor would include the master bedroom and the second bathroom. On the first floor you'd find the drawing room or parlour, which acted as a receiving room for guests and visitors.

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What does a Victorian house look like inside? ›

Wealthy Victorians decorated their homes in the latest styles. There would be heavy curtains, flowery wallpaper, carpets and rugs, ornaments, well made furniture, paintings and plants. The rooms were heated by open coal fires and lighting was provided by candles and oil or gas lamps.

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How much does it cost to build a 4 bedroom mansion? ›

3.5 million. But it can be more or less than the mentioned cost, depending on several factors such as location, design, and more.

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What is the most expensive room to build in a house? ›

1. Kitchen ($10,000 to $30,000) One of the most important rooms in the house, it makes sense that kitchens are also one of the most expensive to build or remodel. From plumbing and electrical, to the layout, to the materials in the room, it adds up.

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Did Victorian houses have toilets? ›

In larger, more stately houses, toilets were sometimes located in regions of the home. They were sometimes located where the old privies (latrines) were located. In smaller, middle class houses, they were apart from the house. Usually in a small, shed-like structure.

How many floors does a Victorian mansion have? ›

Victorian-era homes in eastern American cities tend to be three stories and those in western American cities tend to be two-story houses or one-story cottages. This is not representative of a typical Victorian-era home in all regions.

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Where are the most Victorian homes in the US? ›

Old Louisville in Kentucky has the highest concentration of restored Victorian homes in the US. Originally called the Southern Extension, Old Louisville was built in the 1870s as a suburb, which was 48 city blocks long and filled with Victorian mansions.

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How can you tell if a house is Victorian? ›

Victorian houses have distinctive gabled roofs

The roofs have a steep pitch and are typically made from slate. They're often decorated with small carved ornaments on the gable ends. Adding to the striking appearance of these roofs are tiles made from terracotta and wooden panels on the gable ends.

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Why do Victorian houses have high ceilings? ›

Victorian houses were designed with high ceilings to give the illusion of generous space, even in smaller terraced properties, while the quality of wall and ceiling mouldings was directly related to the status of the house. The more ornate, the grander the home.

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How much does it actually cost to build a mansion? ›

Considering mansions have a minimum size of 8,000 square feet, the typical cost of a mansion would amount to approximately $1.8 million. However, the cost of a mansion can vary depending on other factors, which is why you'll find mansions spanning from $1 million to over $300 million.