THE future of a historic house in Hartford is looking more secure after being bought by a 'considerate' building company.

The original application to develop Sandiway Cottage and grounds whipped up a storm of protest from villagers, Hartford Civic Society, Hartford Parish Council and Vale Royal Borough Council.

It was feared the hunting lodge, which dates back to around 1845, would be demolished to make way for housing. The borough council rejected the application but this was overturned at a subsequent inquiry though, as a concession, the applicant, Morris Homes, agreed to retain the cottage and build the proposed 37 properties around it.

The Civic Society, however, maintained the cottage would be completely encroached and only the building's shell would be left.

But Hillcrest Homes has bought the site and it has a good record of sympathetic approach to restoration.

While no detailed plans have been submitted, it's understood the firm has appointed architects Calder Peel to handle the sensitive redevelopment of the site which will include the careful restoration of Sandiway Cottage.

A spokesman said: 'The scheme will be created specifically for Hartford and designs will reflect and enhance the architecture of Sandiway Cottage and its neighbouring housing.'

Colin Perkins, chairman of Hartford Civic Society, says he is 'cautiously optimistic' about the news: 'What they are saying sounds good and we would hope that would result in a better development than proposed by the previous people.

'The real test would be what their plans are in terms of new housing. The previous developers said they would preserve the frontage of the cottage but extend at the back; there was also going to be an enormous car park at the front.

'The appearance of the building from the road would not be the same as today - it would lose a lot of aesthetic appeal because things like that are really going to make the difference.'

Explaining the importance of Sandiway Cottage to the identity of the community, Mr Perkins said: 'Although it's called a cottage, it's anything but as it's a very large building that in its heyday had servants' quarters and stables.

'It was a hunting lodge for the Cheshire Hunt. A lot of wealthy people had houses in Cheshire so they could spend time in the country and join the hunt and there were quite a few bigger houses in the village on the route.

'There are not many of them left and you end up with a village that has no history as it's all been destroyed. You just end up with modern housing and in that case might as well just live in Milton Keynes.'