A 19th century manor house could be converted into flats, under new plans.

Grade II-listed Friday Hill House (FHH) in Simmons Lane, Chingford, was designed by Lewis Vulliamy in 1839. 

It served as the manor house of the Heathcote family until 1915 after replacing a medieval Jacobean dwelling dating back to 1608.

More recently it was used as an adult learning centre by Waltham Forest council. 

The freehold was bought in January 2013 by company Fortiore, with the financial backing of developers Atlantic Property Management, under the name Friday Hill House Ltd (FHH). 

But the arrangement broke down when Fortiore’s Mark Wellings resigned as director of FHH in July 2013 due to what was described at the time as a "breakdown of communication" over the future of the site. 

The site currently includes the manor house, a stable block and brew house, and approximately two acres of land.

FHH, now led by Atlantic and architects See-Saw Studios, have submitted plans to convert the manor house into ten flats, create a two–bedroom flat in the stable block and turn the brew house into a one-bedroom flat. 

A cul-de-sac development of six new semi-detached, three-bedroom homes with private gardens is planned towards the west of the site. 

The ‘Mathison Room’ on the ground floor of the manor house will be used as a community centre and function room, under the proposal.

Town planner Carolyn Apcar has backed the proposal, as part of the application.

She said: “The proposals are entirely appropriate for the site. 

“They preserve the heritage asset, including its setting and provide good quality residential accommodation that will provide well for the amenities of future occupiers. 

For more on this story, see this week's Guardian - out Thursday