MONMOUTHSHIRE County Council (MCC) has decided to fund a protected species survey on the grounds of Troy House, a privately owned mansion near Monmouth which has fallen into disrepair. The Grade II Listed building, which was completed in 1684, will be surveyed by IEA Consulting at the cost of £9,665.

The building is owned by businessman Peter Carroll, who submitted a planning application to Monmouthshire Country Council (MCC) in 2008 to convert the building into flats. The application has since stalled, as a viability appraisal and surveys covering flood risk and endangered species have not been performed. The council decided on Wednesday 23rd September to fund the survey to progress the situation, as the building may fall into greater disrepair if it is not restored soon.

In his report, Mark Hand, head of planning at MCC, said: “The council’s offer to meet this cost was a pragmatic response to make progress on this complicated but important site in the interests of saving and restoring this Listed Building. Should current negotiations fail, the surveys will still be required by the council for it to undertake enforcement action. Such action would be a last resort, would ultimately be more expensive, and would require separate member approval. The proposal to assist with funding is therefore a pragmatic solution in the unique circumstances surrounding this property.”