Claremont House wins ban reprieve after Glenorchy City Council backs down on bitumen driveway

CLAREMONT House has been given a reprieve by the Glenorchy City Council, but will have to wait to reopen its restaurant.

Owner developer of Claremont House, Joel Van Sanden hopes to reopen his restaurant after a change of heart by Glenorchy Council overturning an earlier ban. Picture: MATT THOMPSON

CLAREMONT House has been given a reprieve – of sorts – by the Glenorchy City Council.

The Mercury revealed last week that Joel Van Sanden’s nine-year, $1.5 million journey to refurbish the 33-room building had been dealt a major blow after the Resource Management and Planning Appeal Tribunal agreed with a Glenorchy council ruling that the 50-space car park had to be sealed, along with the driveway.

Mr Van Sanden has run tours of the property since 2012 and also turned it into a hotel and a restaurant.

Following the decision, Mr Van Sanden stopped running tours of the property and closed the restaurant to avoid breaching his license.

Mr Van Sanden met with Glenorchy City Council officers this week, and after a site visit the council has agreed the pebble surface Mr Van Sanden planned to use for the carpark when lodging his February 2015 application would be acceptable, and Mr Van Sanden did not need to lay bitumen.

The decision means Mr Van Sanden can reopen tours at the heritage home from Sunday, and will reopen the restaurant during daytime hours from the end of February after he has recruited staff.

Seven staff, including a full time restaurant worker and some casuals were forced to look for work elsewhere when Claremont House closed.

Mr Van Sanden hopes to reopen the restaurant for night sittings soon, but needs the council to approve the use of the north driveway for guests leaving the property.

Since Claremont House closed to the public two weeks ago Mr Van Sanden has cancelled 200 bookings, including a 70th birthday party, a baby shower and a christening.

Glenorchy Mayor Kristie Johnston said she was pleased a good outcome had been achieved.

“By working together we were able to work through the issues and explore options that satisfy planning conditions and the developer’s aspirations,” she said.

“Claremont House is a significant landmark in Glenorchy and one that is worth preserving for the public to appreciate.”

Mr Van Sanden said he planned to hold a free open day and afternoon tea on March 4 to say thank you to members of the public who had supported him over the past few days.

Claremont House was built as a four-room Georgian home by Henry Bilton, the warden of Glenorchy from 1868 to 1874.