Lord Sugar has finally won a two-year battle to rebuild his mansion despite fears it could threaten the remains of an 18th Century manor house.
The Apprentice star wants to demolish his existing pile in Chigwell, Essex, and build two new sprawling homes in its place.
But archaeologists have raised concerns that the new development would encroach on the site of an historic property that pre-dates Lord Sugar’s current home – built in 1908.
Some of the ‘fragile and finite’ remains are buried beneath the tennis court, which would be the site of the smaller of the two new buildings.
Planners at Epping Forest District Council gave the go-ahead this week after there were no objections from neighbours, although they introduced a number of stringent conditions.
Lord Sugar has finally won a two-year battle to rebuild his mansion despite fears it could threaten the remains of an 18th Century manor house
As part of the proposals lodged in April, 2018, a new four-bed house referred to as ‘Structure 1’ will boast a family room, library, orangery, study and drawing room – but no boardroom.
The other property, referred to as ‘Structure 2’, will include three master rooms and a courtyard.
Lord Sugar, 72, also wants to painstakingly restore a 300-year-old walled garden by hand, in a bid to avoid causing damage to the heritage asset with machine tools.
The 18th-century manor was first owned by Sir Eliab Harvey Nugent, commander of HMS Temeraire at Trafalgar.
After his death, he left the property to his daughter Elizabeth who married Thomas William Bramston of Skeens Hall Essex.
The property then passed to his son, Thomas Harvey Bramston, until 1881 when it passed to Alfred Savill.
His son Lawrence Savill, a chartered surveyor and one of the founders of the present-day Savills surveying practice, then demolished the Tudor home and replaced it with a modern day home in 1908.
Planners at Epping Forest District Council gave the go-ahead for the demolition of his Chigwell mansion (pictured) this week after there were no objections from neighbours, although they introduced a number of stringent conditions
In an objection to Lord Sugar’s plans, Place Services said: ‘The present tennis court, proposed to be the new build location, lies directly on top of the main complex of the manor.
‘The first edition Ordnance Survey map which shows that the building proposed for demolition to the east of the present house is likely to be part of the original manor complex and thus is likely to be of interest as a historic asset.’
The consultation told the TV star that work should take place until a written scheme of historic building investigation had been submitted to and approved by them.
Archaeological investigations take place on historic building projects and can help to identify any archaeological materials that might be present on site.
Planning agents acting for Lord Sugar, said: ‘Works will require the demolition of the existing house structure and associated outbuildings and replace with a reduced volume of development that is spread throughout two smaller structures.
‘The development will provide a replacement house on the site of the existing structure that will be smaller in its bulk, and mass reducing the visual impact as seen from the main road.
‘A new Structure (structure 2) is then going to be sited to the East of structure 1 on an unused tennis court.
The Apprentice star wants to demolish his existing pile in Chigwell, Essex, and build two new sprawling homes in its place (plans pictured)
‘The scheme will also include a programme of repair and restoration to the walled garden in order to preserve the heritage assets of the site.
‘The recommendations have been made though a full structural survey, and heritage advice.’
Planners granted permission with a number of strict conditions after Lord Sugar signed a Section 106 legal agreement with the council which is used to mitigate the impact of a new home on the local community and infrastructure.
In his report, case officer Michael Johnson said: ‘No preliminary groundwork of any kind shall take place until the applicant has secured the implementation of a programme of archaeological work in accordance with a written scheme of investigation which has been submitted by the applicant and approved by the local planning authority.
‘The site is of archaeological interest of acknowledged importance which may be highly vulnerable to damage or destruction.
‘Unless the authority is satisfied that a proper scheme for investigation has been agreed the remains should be left undisturbed.’
MailOnline has contacted Lord Sugar for comment.