North Yorkshire Council has approved plans for a new entrance, driveway, parking spaces, a fence and the felling of one tree at Pineheath on Cornwall Road.

The distinctive 12-bedroom property sits in one of Harrogate’s most exclusive areas but famously has been empty for more than 30 years.

It’s unclear if the plans, submitted by Harrogate businessman Jason Shaw, could signal a fresh start for Pineheath or if they are for residents living in former chauffeur’s cottage that has already been converted into rental properties.

Mr Shaw bought Pineheath in 2012 for £2m and four years later won planning permission to convert the cottage into two homes and the main building into 12 apartments.

But the apartment conversion never took place and in 2019 he had fresh plans for a larger scheme of 16 apartments refused by Harrogate Borough Council.

Pineheath was built in the 1890s during the town’s Victorian heyday and in the 20th century was home to Sir Dhunjibhoy Bomanji and Lady Frainy Bomanji, who were well-known figures in British high society and mixed with royalty.

Sir Dhunjibhoy was knighted in 1922 after he used his enormous wealth to support Britain’s fight against Germany in the First World War.

Pineheath: Changes including new entrance approved at Harrogate’s most famous abandoned home