RICHARD Hammond, who's one of the hosts of Amazon's motoring show The Grand Tour, has changed his mind about making changes to his Herefordshire castle.

Herefordshire Council had told Hammond, a former presenter of the BBC show Top Gear, that he could refurbish a barn to host guests, with the plans including a new glass link between two barns.

But now another planning application for Bollitree Castle, near Ross-on-Wye, has been sent to the council to consider as a new roof would have prevented any view of the garden from the first floor landing area of the barn.

Ledbury Reporter: Bollitree Castle, which Richard Hammond bought in 2008 Bollitree Castle, which Richard Hammond bought in 2008

The new plans for the Grade II* Listed castle in Weston-under-Penyard, which Hammond bought with his wife Mindy in 2008 for a reported £2 million, show there has been a revision of the glazed link between the barns.

A design and access statement submitted with the application for listed building consent show the first floor bedroom layout has also been revised, as well as the gym and spa on the ground floor.

RELATED NEWS:

As part of the plans, Hammond, 51, is also asking if he can build a new lean to plant roof and toilets.

The glazed link has been revised because the metal clad cat slide roof prevented any view of the garden or house from the first floor landing area, and the cladding was not within the current palette of materials found on the estate with the exception of some hidden flat roofs to the house.

"The proposal of frameless curved glazing contradicts the vertical mullions shown on the approved plans," the statement submitted by Ford Architecture on behalf of Hammond said.

"The revised proposes a much simpler form that compliments the opening to the threshing barn with an angular form that defines the start of the start of the southern wing.

"A thin flat roof just below the eaves improves the light and aspect of the interior space."

OTHER NEWS:

Moving the stairs to the corner of the glazed link from the rear and reducing the two-storey void will retain more of the existing first floor structure than the approved scheme, it said, adding the projecting strut of the existing floor beam is featured as glass table at the centre of the landing area which is designed to act as a communal space for guests using the new bedroom.

Ledbury Reporter: Richard Hammond, centre, pictured with Jeremy Clarkson, right, and James May, left, has changed his mind about plans for his Herefordshire castle. Picture: Danny Lawson/PA Wire Richard Hammond, centre, pictured with Jeremy Clarkson, right, and James May, left, has changed his mind about plans for his Herefordshire castle. Picture: Danny Lawson/PA Wire

"The new stair to the corner of the glazed link is structural steel with a defined functional form that contrasts the lightly structured form of the glazed link which has two tapered columns which frame the entrance," the statement added.

The layout of the first floor accommodation has been revised to provide each bedroom with en-suite accommodation and one additional room has been created.

Ledbury Reporter: The side of Bollitree Castle, in Weston-under-Penyard near Ross-on-Wye, with the pond The side of Bollitree Castle, in Weston-under-Penyard near Ross-on-Wye, with the pond

Consultants working on the scheme stressed the new bedrooms is only intended as short term guest accommodation.

People have until June 4 to comment on application 211016, with June 14 Herefordshire Council's target date for a decision.