Residents have expressed fury after developers were given the green light to bulldoze a mansion on a site once beloved by Jane Austen.
Ashe Park, near Basingstoke, was bought in October 2022 by Shuk Ting Sharon Leung and Gillian Sin Hang Ho.
The property, which dates back to the 17th century, has been remodelled, rebuilt and partially burnt down since the legendary novelist once danced there.
Now, the owners have been given the green light to demolish the house and replace it with a "traditional country house" in the Queen Anne style, much to the outrage of nearby residents.
Retiree Sue Headley, 74, told The Telegraph: "I am not in favour of the demolition of Ashe Parke, it has been part of our history for so long.
"It is a lovely building although sadly neglected in recent years – deliberately, one assumes. It is awful to buy a building and do nothing with it. I would like to see it restored."
Laura Shuttle, 42, added: "It is a historic building with a Jane Austen connection.
"There is a lot of history behind it, it is a shame it can’t be restored as it is...Austen is still celebrated, every big anniversary there is lots of things going on, we still get tourists coming just to see the village she was born in."
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Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council's planning committee said: "Jane Austen refers to visiting the previous Ashe Park House in her letters.
"But there is no evidence that this earlier building is embedded in the current house of 1865, built nearly 50 years after her death nor that it had any direct influence on her literary output.
"The current Ashe Park is very likely not the house visited by Austen.
"Whilst Jane Austen may have visited the main house in the past, it is not likely that [she] ever visited the house that stands today."
A spokesman from the authority said that the dwelling is a private residence, and rejected concerns that its demolition would adversely impact local tourism.
Austen was born around a mile from the 232-acre estate in the village of Steventon in 1775 and attended balls there in the 1790s, later writing in letters about taking part in dances there.
It comes as literature fans are preparing to celebrate 250 years since the birth of the author, who is widely regarded as one of England's greatest ever novelists.
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Ashe Park, near Basingstoke, was bought in October 2022 by Shuk Ting Sharon Leung and Gillian Sin Hang Ho.
The property, which dates back to the 17th century, has been remodelled, rebuilt and partially burnt down since the legendary novelist once danced there.
Now, the owners have been given the green light to demolish the house and replace it with a "traditional country house" in the Queen Anne style, much to the outrage of nearby residents.
Retiree Sue Headley, 74, told The Telegraph: "I am not in favour of the demolition of Ashe Parke, it has been part of our history for so long.
"It is a lovely building although sadly neglected in recent years – deliberately, one assumes. It is awful to buy a building and do nothing with it. I would like to see it restored."
Laura Shuttle, 42, added: "It is a historic building with a Jane Austen connection.
"There is a lot of history behind it, it is a shame it can’t be restored as it is...Austen is still celebrated, every big anniversary there is lots of things going on, we still get tourists coming just to see the village she was born in."
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Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council's planning committee said: "Jane Austen refers to visiting the previous Ashe Park House in her letters.
"But there is no evidence that this earlier building is embedded in the current house of 1865, built nearly 50 years after her death nor that it had any direct influence on her literary output.
"The current Ashe Park is very likely not the house visited by Austen.
"Whilst Jane Austen may have visited the main house in the past, it is not likely that [she] ever visited the house that stands today."
A spokesman from the authority said that the dwelling is a private residence, and rejected concerns that its demolition would adversely impact local tourism.
Austen was born around a mile from the 232-acre estate in the village of Steventon in 1775 and attended balls there in the 1790s, later writing in letters about taking part in dances there.
It comes as literature fans are preparing to celebrate 250 years since the birth of the author, who is widely regarded as one of England's greatest ever novelists.
Find Out More...