AMBITIOUS and controversial plans to demolish Hurstbourne Park and build a new property on the Whitchurch estate are back on track after being halted by Basing-stoke and Deane Borough Council.

The authority slapped a building preservation order on the main house to allow English Heritage to carry out investigations after some residents complained about the plans.

The application is for full permission to remove the remains of the 19th century house and construct a new main house, refurbish and repair the listed stable block, refurbish the 19th century walled garden and pump house and replace two existing dwellings with one new family house.

There will also be some ancillary works.

A spokesperson for the council said: "The Department for Media, Culture and Sport have given listed status to the pump house and walled kitchen garden, but not to the main house. The building preservation order and listed building consent will now lapse, leaving the application to erect a new house and associated buildings."

New owner Nicholas Fane purchased the estate from the Donner family in December last year and in his application to the council said it was 'his intention to rejuvenate the dilapidated estate and construct a new family home for private use'.

A report by Christopher Smallwood Architects said Mr and Mrs Fane purchased the whole estate, 'bringing to it a strong vision for the future to be implemented by a talented professional team'.

It added: "This proposal for a new incarnation of the Hurstbourne Park estate ensures the viability of the estate into the 21st century.

"In Mr and Mrs Fane, the estate has been fortunate enough to have been purchased by a young local family with the vision and resources to run the estate in the traditional manner and breathe life into the whole entity of the estate."

The application will now be decided by the council's development control committee.