Opera house plans at estate of Carphone Warehouse founder

Carphone Warehouse co-founder David Ross has submitted an application to create a permanent opera house on his Leicestershire estate, which includes the historic grade I-listed mansion Nevill Holt Hall. If given final approval, the venue is expected to generate “significant” economic benefits for the region.The Nevill Holt Opera Festival takes place each summer over four weeks at the estate’s grade II-listed stable block.The go-ahead for a temporary auditorium was given in 2005, but following the submission of an application to extend the permission in July 2016, Harborough District Council advised Ross to find a “permanent solution”.The current space has 340 seats, but new documents have revealed the proposed permanent theatre will have the capacity for 398 spectators.The venue will measure 34,300 sq ft with a 1,300 sq ft stage and will also provide space for a 45-strong orchestra and 25 baroque musicians.A planning statement submitted to Harborough District Council said the proposed development is “critical” to consolidate and build on the success of the festival as a business.The statement claimed the permanent venue would generate “significant” local economic benefits as visitors spend on hotel rooms, restaurants and taxis in the region. Nevill Holt Opera also has an educational programme which reaches an estimated 330 children.David Ross, who is understood to be among the richest businessmen in Britain, purchased the Nevill Holt estate in the late 1990s.Nevill Holt Hall pre-dates the year 1300 and was owned by the world-famous Cunard shipping family from 1876 to 1912.It later became a boarding school, which closed in 1998, and the estate was subsequently returned to private residential use by Ross.