THE sinister reason why an abandoned £1.5million mansion surrounded by new homes was left to rot has been revealed.
The 8-bedroom 1930s home in Nottinghamshire has been left empty for years.
Ruddington.infoThe Nottinghamshire home stood empty for years[/caption]
Google EarthDevelopers have submitted plans to demolish the site in Ruddington, Nottinghamshire[/caption]
Abandoned mansion stood empty for years
The mansion was abandoned and quickly fell into disrepair after its owner was driven out be criminals, the MailOnline reports.
Located in Ruddington, a small Nottingham village, The Croft House’s most recent owner fled the property after a string of break ins.
Brenda Mordecai, 91, then left the grand home to her two daughters.
But it has stood empty for a long period of time, despite it last being sold in October 2024 to Cameron Homes for nearly £1.5m, according to Zoopla.
Prior to this, Mrs Mordecai would host decadent garden parties at the property for various societies and the local conservation association.
A retired resident living nearby told the MailOnline: “It was once a splendid house and one to be invited to.”
He went on to explain that he had never personally been inside the property or its garden, which are both hidden from view by rows of trees.
Sadly, the discreet location attracted lots of burglars, eventually driving Mrs Mordecai out of the lavish home.
The owner of a successful lingerie and clothing business moved to a neighbouring upmarket town in 2018.
Despite one of her daughters, Jacqueline, 60, living just a five minute walk away from the property, neither she or her sister Jo-Anne, 58, have chosen to move in.
Today the grand estate stands derelict in a conservation area surrounded by new homes.
Developers submit planning application
However, a developer has been quick to snap up the prime site and has revealed plans to transform the property into six new houses.
The abandoned mansion sits on four acres of land which Cameron Homes is keen to build on.
In an application sent to Rushcliffe Borough Council, the developer submitted proposed plans for the area off Loughborough Road.
These plans would include the demolition of The Croft House to make way for six properties.
The new builds would sit adjacent to Cameron Homes’ pre-existing development of 30 to 40 homes.
While the building is not of listed status, it is identified as being a ‘key unlisted building’ on the Townscape Appraisal Map, reports NottinghamshireLive.
However, a heritage statement sought by the developers as part of the planning applications declares that, despite its age and size, it is not of sufficient heritage interest to warrant the consideration of it being an asset to the area.
If approved, the new homes would be designed to the same specification as more than 200 homes being built on nearby land.
They will offer five bedrooms, and will be inspired by the mock-Tudor aesthetics of houses on Loughborough Road.
They will also be equipped with electric vehicle charging ports and have driveways – each big enough for two cars, as well as garages.
Planners will make a decision on the application in the coming months.
Locals respond to proposed plans
One local told explained that he is confident the developers will gain planning approval.
However, he added: “It’s a shame the property can’t be a family home again and is set to become six separate dwellings, which will increase car use and traffic significantly.”
Another resident expressed their lack of enthusiasm towards the new proposed new builds saying: “Ruddington has far too many. It used to be such a lovely place to live but it’s been spoiled.”
She continued by explaining that the area is not nearly as nice as it used to be.
Prior to Cameron Homes’ acquisition of the land, there was another developer on the scene.
They applied to Rushcliffe Borough Council for planning consent to build eight homes on The Croft site, and a further 35 on the adjacent field.
However, the proposals were met with fierce opposition from the local community, resulting in planning refusal.
This led them to sell the property to Cameron Homes, who later won the right to build an estate in the field and are now seeking permission to build a reduced number of homes at the former mansion.
Housing developments in Ruddington
Directly opposite The Croft House, Clive Whiting is building two brand new luxury homes on the site of an old property from the 70s.
After gaining planning permission, he is knocking down the home and replacing it with two five-bed dwellings.
With regards to the abandoned house sitting opposite his development Mr Whiting said its been sitting empty for many years and is a waste when someone could be living there.
A Cameron Homes spokesperson said: “We absolutely understand and respect concerns from local residents.
“Our proposal for The Croft House on Loughborough Road will look to bring a derelict site back into use by creating six new homes, adjacent to our Sylvan development of 36 new houses, of which 11 are affordable.
“The Croft House proposal is currently going through the formal planning application process, where residents can provide comments to the proposals for due consideration.
“Any decision will be made by the local planning authority, ensuring community views are heard and considered in the application.”
GooglePlanners will make a decision on the application in the coming months[/caption] Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
