It would seem that the planned conversion of the former Gorsey Cop/ Grange Manor/ Crying Tree pub in Grange Lane to apartments - along with the building of new houses in the grounds - has now been abandoned. The owner, Mr Lee Goldsmith, has submitted a planning and listed building consent application (ref 22F/1104 & 22L/1208) to convert the building, instead, into a Day Nursery capable of accommodating up to 165 babies and pre-school children.

Unlike the previous proposal, the new application does not involve the demolition of the extensions that were added to the original Victorian house during the 20th century. Nor does it include the erection of new buildings within the grounds. Instead, the existing hard-surfaced area is to be marked out as a 37-space car park (20 spaces for staff and 17 for drop-off/pick-up) and the overgrown garden area at the rear of the building is to be, in part "re-laid as lawn" for the children to enjoy. According to the submitted Heritage Statement, "a key element of the scheme is that the primary rooms within the building will be retained, including all decorative features, doorways, fireplaces, etc. [and] repairs to existing windows and roofs will be carried out by suitably qualified specialist contractors".

While we have no objection to the proposed use, we are concerned that the plans will do little to enhance the setting of the Listed Building. The fine chestnut tree that was felled in 2016 is still not to be replaced, and there are no proposals for landscaping or planting, even around the perimeter of the car park.