HIGH Trees House in Chepstow is in need of emergency repair works to stop the former registry office going into ruin.

The building was sold by Monmouthshire County Council for £350,500 at the end of January, and a planning application has now been lodged to repair the building.

"The application submitted is for listed building consent to undertake emergency repairs to the building to stop water ingress due to the very poor condition of the building," said a county council spokesperson.

"We are working with the developer to devise a scheme for the site pre-application."

The developers, Woosh Developments of Chepstow, state on their application: "The proposed repair works should be considered as urgent in nature. The property has for some years been left to dilapidate to the position that now, due to a poor maintenance regime, water is penetrating into the property and causing significant internal damage to the internal fabric of the building, including some original Georgian features".

The building was originally marketed at a price of £650,000, but after failure to sell the property at auction, High Trees was sold for £350,589.13 via an informal tender process.

The 18th Century Grade II listed building was the birthplace of Sir Herbert Isambard Owen in 1850. The nephew of Isambard Kingdom Brunel, Herbert was the first vice chancellor of the University of Bristol and a deputy Chancellor of the University of Wales.

Repair work is necessary for the roof, sash windows, doors, and the re-pointing and re-rendering of almost the entire outside of the building.

It is not yet known what plans developers have for the property.