Clandon House was originally designed and built in the 1730s for the second Lord Onslow by Italian architect Giacomo Leoni. Before the fire, its interiors were considered among the finest of their era. The Onslow family, who owned the property for two centuries, gifted Clandon Park to the National Trust in 1958. The fire in 2015 destroyed all but one room of the 18th-century mansion, with only the external facades of the building remaining substantially undamaged.
In March 2025, Guildford Borough Council drew criticism for approving plans submitted by the National Trust designed by Allies and Morrison to maintain the Grade I-listed Clandon Park stately home in its fire-damaged condition, rather than restoring its original interiors after a devastating fire in 2015. The housing secretary, Steve Reed, later decided not to intervene in the council’s decision.
Following the fire, the National Trust initially planned, in collaboration with Allies and Morrison, to restore the house and its interiors. The proposals from Allies and Morrison, supported by the National Trust will retain the 18th-century Palladian mansion as a ‘shell’ reflecting the damage caused by the fire. Instead, the new proposals include installing viewing platforms and a roof garden to allow visitors to engage more closely with the building’s fabric.
The local authority gave unanimous consent to these plans, despite strong opposition from traditionalists. Notably, classical architect Francis Terry criticised the National Trust’s approach, describing it as an ‘act of barbarism’ against the Grade I-listed building.
The Georgian Group has now launched a legal bid to challenge the council’s approval, arguing that the council’s decision-making was unlawful and sets a dangerous precedent in terms of how the significance of historic buildings is assessed after damage or loss. The heritage body has applied to the High Court for permission to proceed with the judicial review and, as a charity, has also sought a cost cap to limit its financial exposure.
Dr Anya Lucas Director of the Georgian Group has commented:
“This unusual case is about more than Clandon Park. We (The Georgian Society) are very concerned about the precedent these consents set for heritage assets more generally. If a public body can adopt such a radical approach to a Grade I listed building – which burnt only relatively recently and whose interiors are both internationally-significant and well-documented – what message does this send to the owners of more modest listed buildings of all types up and down the country?
“Having taken legal advice, it is now our firm view that if the Clandon consents – predicated on the notion of ‘post-fire significance’ – are not quashed they will have far-reaching negative consequences for heritage assets more generally. The action we are taking therefore concerns a matter of principle which the Georgian Group – founded to promote and protect Georgian heritage – cannot concede”.
The Georgian Group stressed that their judicial review is targeting the council’s decision-making process, arguing that it was unlawful and set a dangerous precedent for how the significance of historic buildings is assessed after damage or loss.
A National Trust spokesperson stated, “The National Trust remains committed to completing its proposed scheme, which will conserve the surviving building at Clandon and renew it as a welcoming, fully functional building for current and future generations.” Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Guildford Council indicated, “We will respond to argue our decision is lawful. It will then be for the High Court to decide whether to allow the appeal to proceed to a judicial review hearing.”
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