Former pub turned into luxury homes

A former South Derbyshire pub and its surrounding grounds have been redeveloped into seven executive country family homes – following a deal supported by East Midlands-based law firm Nelsons.

The Melbourne Arms, in Ashby Road, Melbourne, was built in 1791 by full-time innkeeper Francis Dalman and had previously been used as a pub and Indian restaurant. Following an auction sale in 2016, the previously-listed building and its surrounding grounds were purchased by Melbourne-based company Stanton Developments.

A project then began to transform the building – which has stood on the southern edge of the village for the past 200 years – into two four-bedroom luxury family homes, with a further five homes being built in the surrounding grounds.

Andy Turner, director at Stanton Developments, said: “Transforming the Melbourne Arms was an offer we couldn’t refuse. We wanted to bring the building back to life and provide high-quality country residences to families at the same time. Nelsons was pivotal in our success on this project, working tirelessly and very quickly to get the deal over the line.”

The pub’s restoration cost £500,000 and was the first project for the recently formed Stanton Developments. One of the new homes, ‘Dalman House’, was named after its original proprietor. The first phase of the project, which consisted of the division of the former pub into two homes and the build of two additional homes, is now complete. The final phase of the project is expected to complete in July 2019.

Mary Gharmount, associate and solicitor in Nelsons’ commercial property team, who led the deal, added: “We’re very proud to have been involved in a deal that is giving a new life to the former pub. All the properties on the site will add real value to Melbourne as the building is so iconic in the village.”