Hartsfield Manor to be developed into a luxury hotel and spa

PLP Architecture has submitted a full planning application to Mole Valley District Council for the redevelopment of Hartsfield Manor in Betchworth, Surrey.

The proposal seeks to restore and reimagine the existing manor house hotel, transforming it into a 69-key luxury hotel and spa retreat. The plans show new facilities including an event space, hotel extension, woodland lodges and elevated treehouses.

The redevelopment will introduce a new spa and wellness offering, including a wellness pool, gym and treatment spaces. The plans also include a dedicated event building for weddings and conferences.

A transformational project

Hartsfield Manor is located southwest of Betchworth, between Dorking and Reigate and around 20 miles from central London. The estate currently operates as a hotel and event venue and has been used as a filming location for the Apple TV+ series, Slow Horses.

Submitted on behalf of the owner and applicant, HB Devco Ltd, PLP Architecture’s proposal sets out a design-led and context-sensitive strategy for the estate. This combines the restoration of the Manor with the removal of dated 1970s and 1980s extensions.

A defining feature of the proposal is a new low-profile hotel extension set into the natural slope of the site. Seamlessly integrated into the landscape, the proposed new building has been designed to limit visual impact. It also aims t0 preserve open views from the Manor across the surrounding countryside.

Connected to nature

This extension would provide additional guest accommodation, including a mix of standard and deluxe rooms, suites and self-catering apartments. Across the wider 16-acre site, four new lodges and five treehouses have been discreetly positioned within wooded areas.

Originally constructed in the 1860s as a private country residence, Hartsfield Manor retains a strong architectural identity with many original features. A detailed assessment has identified the elements of the Manor that would be preserved and enhanced during the redevelopment.

Each of the new buildings have been designed to draw on the area’s natural materials, incorporating local Bargate stone, slate, wood and rammed earth.

Environmentally friendly design

PLP Architecture’s scheme looks to deliver biodiversity net gain through new planting, habitat creation and strengthened ecological corridors.

Informed by a detailed tree survey, the restrained landscape strategy would retain almost all of the mature trees. It will introduce low-impact pathways, and, where removal or relocation is unavoidable, provide additional planting to achieve a net increase in tree cover.

According to the plans, buildings will be energy-efficient and zero-carbon ready, supported by ground-source heat pumps. It will include rainwater management and the reuse of excavated materials, with lighting carefully designed to minimise light spill through limited.

Planning partnerships

Kanda Consulting is supporting the PLP Architecture project team in delivering public consultation and stakeholder engagement. Colliers International is acting as the client agent and will also function as asset manager for the hotel, subject to planning approval.

“We are delighted to have been supporting the client through the recent acquisition of Hartsfield Manor,” said Sean Quinney, director of hotel asset management at Colliers International. “And the ongoing management of the hotel whilst working with PLP and other specialists to support the design and submission of this exciting and unique scheme.”

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