Colliery Owner's Victorian Mansion Receives Much Needed Planning Permission

The South Wales Valleys were once one of the greatest industrial areas of Britain with coal mines and steel works helping to fuel the Industrial Revolution. As time has passed, heavy industry has all but disappeared, although heritage centres such as the Big Pit at Blaenavon help keep the memories alive.

Efforts have also been made to maintain and restore the magnificent homes that were built by the mine owners, iron masters and shipping magnates whose wealth and vision was the driving force behind this remarkable area. Cyfarthfa Castle at Merthyr is the former home of the Crawshay family, iron masters of the Cyfarthfa Ironworks, and Dyffryn House in the Vale of Glamorgan which has recently come into the care of the National Trust was for some time the family home of the Cory shipping family.

Now, with a little bit of luck, the future of another fine example of a colliery owner's home will be saved for future generations by the news that planning permission has been granted for the repair of the stables at the Grade II listed Insole Court at Llandaff in Cardiff, the former home of the mine owning James Harvey Insole. Cardiff's Insole Court Trust has £761,724 to repair the stables for community and educational functions.

The planning approval also includes converting adjacent outbuildings in to a visitors' centre and tea rooms, as well as to help restore the gardens. The trust aims to raise £5m to restore the building.

Insole Court was begun in the early 1850s by colliery owner James Harvey Insole, and Cardiff council is working with the trust to turn it into a community building. Blueprints for the work have been on display since March 2012.

The trust said: "The project will restore the Victorian mansion in Llandaff to its former splendour, and also create a community hub and tea room in the stables. It will provide heritage tours of the house assisted by volunteer guides and tour leaders. There will be opportunities for employment and social enterprises with facilities for the community including a centre for older people, a parent and toddler centre, craft workshops and a community hall."

Trust chair Sir Norman Lloyd-Edwards said: "The architects, consultants, Cardiff council and the trust have all worked together on the plans and we are delighted to have gained planning permission. We are now looking to strengthen the trust board to move the project forward and are looking for trustees with expertise in strategic finance, change management and fundraising."

Neil Richardson, Insole Court project director, said: "Gaining planning permission moves the trust a step closer to taking over the management of Insole Court on behalf of the community. There is still a lot of work to do, particularly in fundraising, but we hope to start work on the stables in the autumn."

Formerly known as Ely Court, the building was extended by James Harvey Insole and developed over the years, including a tower based on the one at Cardiff Castle. The Insole family lived on the site from 1856 to 1938.