Multi award-winning developer Weston Homes has exchanged contracts to acquire the former Sergeants’ Mess in the village of Deepcut, Surrey. A grand Edwardian style building with rich military heritage, it is set to become a £32.5 million (GDV) scheme comprising 70 homes, with a mixture of converted and new build market sale and shared ownership homes.
Located on Bellew Road at the former Princess Royal Barracks in Deepcut, the Sergeants’ Mess is a stately Edwardian style building set in 4.25 acres of grounds with mature trees, within a total site measuring approximately 6.23 acres. The three-storey main building of the Sergeants’ Mess was originally built in 1938 to designs by architect W A Ross with a brick façade, classical Portland stone entrance portico, dormer roof and tall feature brick chimneys.
The Sergeants’ Mess has been historically refurbished and extended with modern sash windows installed and new pavilion wings constructed, connected to the main building by Doric order colonnades. As part of a 1972 modernisation these were converted into glazed corridors. The refurbished building was reopened by HM Queen Elizabeth II in May 1972.
Weston Homes plans to convert and develop the site to provide a £32.5 million (GDV) scheme of 70 converted and newly built homes, comprising 65 market sale and 5 shared ownership homes. The main Sergeants’ Mess building will be converted into 33 apartments, whilst in the extensive grounds Weston Homes will build a premium collection of new two, three, four and five-bedroom homes, each with private gardens.
Princess Royal Barracks, which comprises 114 hectares, was used for military training since the late 19th century. It is now being transformed into a new neighbourhood, Mindenhurst, providing housing, a primary school, amenities, and extensive outside space. Skanska is leading the masterplan development.
The village of Deepcut is named for the deep excavations dug for the construction of the Basingstoke Canal during the 18th century. There are direct trains from nearby Frimley station to London Waterloo in 1 hour 20 minutes and nearby Farnborough station to London Waterloo in 35 minutes.
Deepcut is a 20-minute drive from Aldershot, historically the country’s largest military centre, where Weston Homes has recently completed the conversion of the former Cambridge Military Hospital into Gun Hill Park, a collection of new build and converted homes in landscaped grounds.
Bob Weston, Chairman of Weston Homes says: “Our acquisition of the former Sergeants’ Mess at Deepcut adds another exciting development opportunity to our portfolio. Weston Homes has an extensive history of renovating and reinvigorating historic buildings into new residential addresses and we are proud to build homes that offer both rich heritage and the convenience of modern life.”
Suzanne Aplin, Group Sales and Marketing Director at Weston Homes says: “We are delighted to acquire another former military site, the Sergeants Mess at Deepcut. The main Edwardian building was originally built in the style of a country home and has grand architecture. Our plans will deliver both converted apartments and modern new build homes, offering buyers a wide choice of homes which all provide our award-winning specification and benefit from our attention to detail.”
Barney Hillsdon, Principle, Land and Development, Avison Young (acting on behalf of the seller) says: “We are delighted that Weston Homes has acquired the Sergeants’ Mess and Parcel X at Mindenhurst, which is one of the last elements of this fantastic scheme. As a refurbishment specialist, Weston Homes will undoubtedly deliver a high quality development which will provide a unique and bespoke phase of the new Mindenhurst Village.”
For further information on Weston Homes please call 01279 873 333 or click here.
