27/02/2024
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/T5aQHXHQshUbovQH/?mibextid=WC7FNe
Exciting news! The Park has managed to over the last 10 years to get its self to a position where its more or less self-funding. This is a major achievement. We will be developing a Conservation Management Plan (CMP) to sit alongside our existing management plans, that will guide us forward over the next ten years providing a free to enter Grade One Listed landscape that has value to all.
Mount Edgcumbe House & Country Park
Conservation Management Plan 2025-2035 - Project Update
This briefing provides a summary update and outline of the proposed process to produce the next Conservation Management Plan (CMP), alongside a renewed vision, and operational Development and Business Plan, for Mount Edgcumbe Country Park.
Mt Edgcumbe is a much-valued listed landscape based on the Rame Peninsula, in SE Cornwall, and managed via a Joint Committee of Plymouth City Council and Cornwall Council.
Background
Historic parks and gardens are an important, distinctive, and much cherished part of our inheritance and we have a duty to care for them. The landscape of Mount Edgcumbe Country Park is Grade 1 listed within the Register of Historic Parks and Gardens by Historic England for its special historic interest (under the Historic Buildings and Ancient Monuments Act 1953).
Over the past ten years the Mt Edgcumbe Joint Committee and the Country Park Team have set out and delivered a programme to develop and sensitively manage the house and landscape from a position of significant annual financial deficit to a cost-neutral position. This has been effectively achieved, along with a range of other services and enhancements that continue to deliver benefits for local communities and visitors alike.
The series of management plans approved by the Joint Committee and delivered by the Mt Edgcumbe team have recognised the historic and heritage significance of the Country Park landscape and assets, and have addressed and incorporated relevant policies and strategic objectives of the two responsible local authorities, as well as the most recent and relevant conservation plans and reports commissioned for Mt Edgcumbe. These include Report No.ER171 ‘Mount Edgcumbe Development of the Historic Landscape and Repair and Restoration Proposals’ (Land Use Consultants Aug 2000), Report No.178 ‘Mount Edgcumbe & Cremyll Economic and Environmental Initiative’ (Mount Edgcumbe Management Team, Cornwall County Council and City of Plymouth Council, in association with English Heritage, et al, June 2002), etc.
During 2023, the Mt Edgcumbe Joint Committee agreed to an updated Conservation Management Plan to be produced, alongside a new development and business plan. This should ensure that the recent successful phase of landscape management is built upon, and that the landscape continues to be managed in a manner that balances visitor and community well-being and benefits, alongside appropriate listed landscape management and environmental stewardship (including for biodiversity and climate resilience outcomes).
Achievements of Current Approach
Notable outcomes from the delivery of Joint Committee-approved management plans over recent years include:
• Meeting the effectively cost-neutral financial targets required by the local authority partners (on a turnover of c.£1m p.a.) while maintaining free-entry
• c.£4.5m of funding attracted, for improvements including the Garden Battery, two Deer Houses, Milton’s Temple, Garden Seats, Lady Emma’s Cottage, countryside stewardship, et al.
• Lady Emma’s Cottage (listed building) secured for Mt Edgcumbe, at a cost of £0.5m via a generous local benefactor. Adds to successfully expanded and highly-rated portfolio of on-site holiday and visitor accommodation.
• Consistently high visitor ratings (top 10%) on Trip Advisor, and c.250,000 visitors p.a.
• Renowned and well-established events programme throughout summer and shoulder months.
• 26 local businesses accommodated, employing 60-80 people.
• Strong partnerships with key stakeholders including Historic England, Natural England, Cornwall National Landscape (AONB), National Marine Park, and successful Friends of Mount Edgcumbe Country Park community group.
• Educational links and volunteering opportunities – rebuilt post-Covid.
Next Steps
The new/updated Conservation Management Plan 2025-2035 will be drafted during 2024. A steering group of key stakeholders (including Historic England, Natural England, Plymouth and Cornwall Councils, local Parish Councils and community networks, tbc,) will oversee the project, reporting to the Joint Committee.
Stakeholder and wider community consultation will be conducted during Spring 2024 to inform the development of the Plan.
Two major elements – the State of the Assets review (condition surveys of on-site assets, including 56 listed buildings) and the Management & Development Plan drafting (including review of vision, existing plans and relevant documentation, gap analysis, capacity and structure, sustainability and resilience, risks & prioritised opportunities, etc,) will be resourced and delivered between March-November 2024.
A draft report should be presented to the Joint Committee for consideration and approval during 2024, for final public consultation in early 2025 and formal adoption in Spring 2025. *
For any queries, or suggestions, please contact: [email protected] in the first instance.
*Dates subject to change depending on funding cycles, but this reflects current plan.
