A Victorian-era barn in Lower Soudley, Forest of Dean, long neglected and described as ‘dilapidated,’ has received approval to be converted back into a residential home. The property, known as Bradley Villa, holds historical significance, having been built in 1876 as a home for John Jarrett, manager of Soudley Ironworks.
Jim and Liz Bell, who took on the project in September 2023, sought permission to restore the two-bedroom property, including the addition of a gravel driveway. The Forest of Dean District Council’s Development Management Committee considered the application on 11 August.
Initially, planning officers had recommended refusal, viewing the application as a rebuild rather than a conversion, which would constitute new development in the open countryside and conflict with planning policies.
However, Mr Bell highlighted that Bradley Villa was inhabited as a domestic residence for nearly a century before being repurposed in 1970 as an intensive piggery and slaughterhouse. He emphasised that original Victorian features survive within the building, such as tiled floors, horsehair plaster where the staircase once was, and original hearths in all downstairs rooms. The restoration also uncovered a rear bakery historically used by Mary Jones to bake for the village.
The proposals have received strong community support. Councillor Sid Phelps, who canvassed the surrounding area in 2015, confirmed that people had lived in the property in recent years, challenging suggestions that it had been unoccupied since the 1970s.
Councillor Richard Burton described the application as ‘sensible and workable,’ noting that previous concerns had largely been addressed. During the committee meeting, fellow councillors expressed the need to increase housing supply, particularly for young families, and acknowledged the replacement of the roof as a necessary and proportionate measure to preserve the building.
In a vote of nine to one, the committee granted permission for the property’s restoration and conversion back into a home, subject to conditions. This decision marks a significant step in returning a historically important yet neglected building to its original residential use within the scenic village of Lower Soudley.