‘Outcry over Leaden Hall Plans’, by Julie Harding, News & Property Editor (p.40)
The article noted that the plans have caused such controversy that Lord Patten, speaking in the House of Lords questioned: ‘…whether the gardens of the Grade I listed Leaden Hall fall within a nationally significant setting to be protected as defined by the National Planning Policy Framework’.
Constable’s great-great-great granddaughter, Sasha Constable, is quoted as saying ‘…it would be a shame not to preserve some of the best loved views [Constable] immortalised…’ and local heritage charity, The Wiltshire Historic Buildings Trust remarks ‘ …The planning laws are clear: no harm should be done to a Grade I-Listed building… other than in exceptional circumstances… providing office space for the Dean and Chapter does not meet that high bar…’.
The article also comments on the fact that Salisbury City Council ‘… took the unusual step of issuing an ‘object’ stance to Wiltshire Council noting that ‘the design is not in keeping with (the) surroundings.’