Rising expenses force estate sale

Leighton estate is home to various listed buildings

An historic estate in Powys could be sold because of its escalating maintenance costs.

Council officials say Leighton estate, near Welshpool, which has 16 Grade II-star listed buildings and seven with Grade II status, needs £2m investment.

The estate is farmed by nine tenants who share 473 acres (191 hectares), and there are also eight commercial units.

Powys council has been working with the Prince's Regeneration Trust to find new uses for the site.

One possibility focused on turning it into a golf course, with a hotel.

But officials said the plans were moving too slowly, and various buildings on the estate needed urgent attention.

'Dry rot '

A report prepared by the council said: "Over the last five years £115,000 has been spent in carrying out essential maintenance with a further £38,000 planned for this year.

"This maintenance programme is not keeping pace with the buildings' rate of deterioration. A recent condition survey identified the need to spend up to £2m to bring them up to a satisfactory condition and addresses dry rot and poor roofs."

It said the council was "not in a position" to spend large sums on the estate.

It has attracted the interest of Welsh heritage body Cadw, the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales and the National Trust.

Meanwhile, the Prince's Regeneration Trust has worked on developing plans for the site, and last year Prince Charles visited the estate.