Plans to convert 'haunted' castle on hill into a home
PLANS have been submitted to turn a 238-year-old ruin into a modern-day home.
The proposals seek renewed consent to transform Racton Ruins, which is a striking tower that was built on a hill in 1772 and close to the village of Funtington, near Emsworth.
The tower was built as a folly as part of the Stansted Estate and many believe was used by the then owner to see his trading ships berth at Emsworth, then a major port.
Mark Talbot, who has owned the tower for 30 years, has applied for planning permission to turn the tower into a home.
He has already been granted planning permission before, but wants to renew the consent to keep the refurbishment plan alive.
He said it would cost in excess of 500,000 to convert.
'It's just a renewal of permission which you have to do every three years, if you have not done the work,' he said.
'It's going to take an awful lot of money. We could start next year, or this year even, we just don't know. We just have to keep the planning consent.'
Mr Talbot said he has no qualms about living in the building if it is haunted as rumours suggest.
'I don't believe in it being haunted,' he said.
To comment on the application write to Chichester council by February 17, quoting the application number SO/10/00114/EXT.
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