/ Feb 19, 2026
Trending
The Woodcote in West Sussex has secured planning approval from the South Downs National Park Authority to restore and convert its historic pub and cottage into a contemporary country lodge featuring a village bistro and 16 guest suites.
Architects McLean Quinlan are leading the design of the expansion, which includes a new flagship fine dining restaurant. The project aims to restore lost hedgerows, create new wetlands, and manage rainwater naturally to support local wildlife.
The development is said to follow the natural contours of the land to maintain views of the South Downs. Landscape architects Studio Engleback researched the area’s geology to ensure the design restores the site’s character while adding new woodland and orchards.
Meanwhile, interior designer Peter Mikic provided consultancy on the project, focusing on spatial flow and room proportions. The accommodation will be designed for longer stays, while the bistro will remain accessible to the local community and village residents.
As the site is located within the South Downs Dark Sky Core Area, lighting will be low level to protect the night sky. The project includes meadow creation and the establishment of an orchard to enhance biodiversity.
Jamie Lumsden, managing director of Ledmore Capital, which owns The Woodcote, said: “We are delighted that the South Downs National Park Authority has approved our plans. This is an important step forward in realising our vision for The Woodcote as an enduring luxury destination within the South Downs National Park.
“The opportunity to bring together exceptional accommodation, sensitively designed to capture the stunning views of this remarkable landscape, with a flagship fine dining restaurant carrying a clear ambition for Michelin Green Star recognition, marks a truly exciting next chapter for us.”
The Woodcote in West Sussex has secured planning approval from the South Downs National Park Authority to restore and convert its historic pub and cottage into a contemporary country lodge featuring a village bistro and 16 guest suites.
Architects McLean Quinlan are leading the design of the expansion, which includes a new flagship fine dining restaurant. The project aims to restore lost hedgerows, create new wetlands, and manage rainwater naturally to support local wildlife.
The development is said to follow the natural contours of the land to maintain views of the South Downs. Landscape architects Studio Engleback researched the area’s geology to ensure the design restores the site’s character while adding new woodland and orchards.
Meanwhile, interior designer Peter Mikic provided consultancy on the project, focusing on spatial flow and room proportions. The accommodation will be designed for longer stays, while the bistro will remain accessible to the local community and village residents.
As the site is located within the South Downs Dark Sky Core Area, lighting will be low level to protect the night sky. The project includes meadow creation and the establishment of an orchard to enhance biodiversity.
Jamie Lumsden, managing director of Ledmore Capital, which owns The Woodcote, said: “We are delighted that the South Downs National Park Authority has approved our plans. This is an important step forward in realising our vision for The Woodcote as an enduring luxury destination within the South Downs National Park.
“The opportunity to bring together exceptional accommodation, sensitively designed to capture the stunning views of this remarkable landscape, with a flagship fine dining restaurant carrying a clear ambition for Michelin Green Star recognition, marks a truly exciting next chapter for us.”
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It is a long established fact that a reader will be distracted by the readable content of a page when looking at its layout. The point of using Lorem Ipsum is that it has a more-or-less normal distribution of letters, as opposed to using ‘Content here, content here’, making it look like readable English. Many desktop publishing packages and web page editors now use Lorem Ipsum as their default model text, and a search for ‘lorem ipsum’ will uncover many web sites still in their infancy.
The point of using Lorem Ipsum is that it has a more-or-less normal distribution of letters, as opposed to using ‘Content here, content here’, making

The point of using Lorem Ipsum is that it has a more-or-less normal distribution of letters, as opposed to using ‘Content here, content here’, making it look like readable English. Many desktop publishing packages and web page editors now use Lorem Ipsum as their default model text, and a search for ‘lorem ipsum’ will uncover many web sites still in their infancy.

It is a long established fact that a reader will be distracted by the readable content of a page when looking at its layout. The point of using Lorem Ipsum is that it has a more-or-less normal distribution
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