Hanworth Park House has been empty for 25 years and could fall down if restoration work is not carried out, according to the owner.

Hounslow Council has opposed existing development plans on the grounds they are "not in keeping with green belt policy".

Owner of the Grade II listed building, Gary Cottle, wants to raise £10million to restore the property by building houses on the land, but planning applications submitted to the council were rejected in August this year.

Mr Cottle said: "Obviously it is bitterly disappointing to have spent three years putting together a solution to save an iconic house where the magnitude of the restoration, design, layout were all agreed with London Borough of Hounslow, to then find out that they don't support the project.

"Now I know why it has been left to rot and decay for the last 25 years!"

He added: "The local residents have been let down thus far, and we are in the process of asking the London Borough of Hounslow what they suggest to avoid a national monument falling down."

The house was built in the early 1800s

Hanworth Park House was built in the early 1800s near to the site of an old hunting lodge used by Henry VIII and Queen Elizabeth I.

The house was used as a military hospital during the First World War and was more recently used as nursing care home from 1953 to 1992.

Residents are now rallying together in a bid to question Hounslow Council on what they think should be done to restore the building, and have created their own local plan setting out the benefits to the community.

It will cost around £10million to restore the house

A Facebook group of supporters has seen its membership soar from just 200 to more than 1,300 in the past few months, with locals desperate to see the house restored to its former glory.

Aside from housing, plans for the 10 acres of parkland include a museum, café and outdoor terrace, all of which has been requested by members of the community.

The plan says locals will benefit from a park and recreation area for walking and cycling, and suggests hundreds of jobs will be created in the restoration process.

The house has stood empty for 25 years

Societies and groups will have access to the restored house, including the grand ballroom and function rooms.

Councillor Steve Curran, leader of Hounslow Council, has said the authority wants to see the house restored and put to "viable use".

He explained: "But the plan to build housing by the applicant to help fund any restoration is currently not in keeping with green belt policy and the public benefits do not outweigh the significant harm from building on a large area of the green belt.

A Facebook group in support of the plans has over 1,300 members

"The applicant would need to work with the council’s property and parks team to get an agreement in principle as to another possible area being suitable for the building of housing and the council could look to consider this along with costs.

"Representations can also be made to the current Hounslow Local Plan, to recommend that the green belt be reviewed and an area of the park or somewhere else be allocated for housing to support the restoration of the house."

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