Storied country house Benham Park has hit the market for £26m in Berkshire – and it comes with consent to turn it into a state-of-the-art wellness centre.

Built between 1772 and 1775 by English architect Henry Holland, the 28,000 sq ft house sits at the heart of a 130-acres park designed by Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown, and terraced gardens by William Andrews Nesfield.

Planning consent was granted back in 2013 to restore the 10-bedroom stately home and build 40,000 sq ft of accommodation for either residential use or commercial use as a medical park. Only the medical park consent was triggered but ‘it is believed it would be straightforward to resurrect the expired residential consent,’ says Savills, which is acting as agent on the sale of Benham Park.

Outlines for its adaptive reuse as a wellness centre include the creation of ‘extensive medical diagnostics, spa, sumptuous 100 bedroom accommodation and fine dining’ facilities, says the listing.

‘The prospect of restoring a property of such magnificent proportions with excellent access to London has not arisen for many years, and we expect interest from potential buyers for either its reinstatement as a significant country residence or its repurpose into a world-leading Wellness Centre,’ says Crispin Holborow, deputy chairman of Savills private office.

The Grade II*-listed Georgian mansion is a treasure-trove of historic details, including a cantilevered Portland stone staircase in the centre of the house, and Bath stone ionic capitals at the front.

Also included in the sale is a gate lodge and a mill house which overlooks the lake.

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