Duchy signs first tenant at Dunsop Bridge

The Queen's Duchy of Lancaster estate has signed the first tenant at its latest rural office conversion scheme. The Forest of Bowland Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty partnership has taken 1,500 sq ft and will be the first organisation to move into the Root Hill Estate Yard, on the Whitewell Estate at Dunsop Bridge, in Lancashire.

Root Hill Estate Yard comprises historic stone-built barns and racing stables where a derby winning horse – Kettledrum – was trained in the 19th Century. The buildings are being converted by the Duchy into 7,093 sq ft of attractive and sustainable office space.

Clitheroe-based Sunderland Peacock Architects designed the conversion, retaining many of the architectural features of the original buildings such as the panelled alls, roof trusses and quirky details reflecting the many years they were used as stables, workshops and stores.

The conversion is scheduled for completion by the end of July 2009. Root Hill follows a successfull pilot office development at Crewe Hall Farm in Cheshire with Maple Grove Developments.