Rural Regeneration: Dartington Hall Trust and Estate
The Dartington Hall Estate in Totnes, South Devon, comprises 1200 acres of farmland and forestry, a Grade I listed medieval Hall, over 30 other listed buildings and structures, Grade II* Listed gardens and a 20th century campus of educational buildings, arts and cultural facilities, hotel and conference facilities, shops and business and social enterprise spaces. The Estate is also the subject of a progressive land-use and ecology experiment involving over 20 regenerative farming tenants.
As CEO of Dartington Hall Trust, Rhodri led the development of a new vision, purpose, strategy and business plan for the Trust and a new masterplan for the Dartington Estate which accommodated over 250 new rural homes (including innovative modular and other forms of sustainable architecture) in a sensitive historic rural setting. The masterplan was rooted in best-practice place-making and landscape design and directly responded to Dartington’s ecological, economic and social justice agendas.
Due to longstanding tensions between the trustees and the local community, Rhodri also led a major community participation exercise (including Open Space sessions) to heal old wounds and rebuild communication and trust. This resulted in the local community becoming active participants in the development of the Estate masterplan and in the design and delivery of the first phase of projects.
Client: Dartington Hall Trust
Key Partners and Stakeholders: Historic England, Natural England, South Hams District Council, 170 business and 45 residential tenants, the Dartington Parish Council and Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group, the Dartington and Totnes communities, Dartington’s national and international stakeholders
Consultant Team: Studio Egret West (master-planning), Alan Baxter Associates (movement), Rogers Stirk Harbour (architects: modular buildings), Purcell (heritage architects); Ash Sakula (residential architects); Gillespie Yunnie (educational architects); Dan Pearson Studio (landscape and garden design), Evolving Forests (climate-resilient forestry), We Like Today (design of retail and leisure attractions), Faye Toogood Studio (interior design for hotel and restaurant)