AN HISTORIC mansion near the Borders that was set to be demolished has now been saved.

Plans had been submitted to Northumberland County Council to knock down Carham Hall, near Coldstream, which was a de-listed building.

However, a successful application by The Victorian Society has resulted in the resumption of the 18th century mansion’s Grade II listed status, ending demolition fears.

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The Victorian Society's director Joe O’Donnell said: “We are delighted that Carham Hall has been recognised as a high-quality building that deserves much better than demolition.

“Demolition and rebuilding would be a huge waste of embodied energy. In a climate emergency we must stop treating buildings as throwaway.

“Northumberland County Council should work with the owners to ensure that the hall is adapted for re-use rather than just left empty and deteriorating so that demolition can be pushed for again in the future.”

Carham Hall was most recently used as a care home.

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According to The Victorian Society, the building was de-listed in 1988.

The planning application to demolish the property said the £5,000-per-month running costs were a major factor in the proposal.

On social media, scores of people criticised the plans – and now the Victorian Society has claimed victory.

A spokesperson for Historic England said: “We have looked into this case and the limited surviving information confirms that it was de-listed by the then Department of the Environment in the 1980s, but with no information as to why.

"The building is of clear historic and architectural interest therefore the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport recently agreed with our advice that it merits listing at Grade II.”

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A spokesperson for Northumberland County Council said: "We have been notified of the re-listing to Grade II status of Carham Hall.

"This means that demolition is not currently permitted. The Grade II listing gives Carham Hall protection under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990, and places a duty on the council to pay special regard to the desirability of protecting listed buildings.

"As a result of its designation, any future proposal to demolish it would require Listed Building Consent.

"Current government policy means that great weight should be given to the preservation of heritage assets and that any proposal to demolish a designated heritage asset should be refused unless it can be demonstrated that there would be substantial public benefit that would outweigh the harm caused.

"We are not aware of any such public benefit that would arise from the demolition of the hall."