Brief History

In 1877 after nearly 500 years of male succession of the Davenport family ownership, nearly 2000 acres of Bramhall, including Bramall Hall and the title of Lord of the Manor of Bramhall, passed out of the family and was purchased by The Freeholders Company Limited. The estate was mainly agricultural, plus some cottages and the grounds of the Hall.

In the years up until the First World War The Freeholders Company Limited gradually developed the area and sold off individual plots and some small multiple plots, mainly for private house building. In virtually all their sales they created restrictive covenants that regulated, and still regulate, the use of the plots as to density (usually for a single house), usage and appearance.

Any changes of any of these elements almost invariably affect those properties in Bramhall that were built up to 1920. Thereafter the land was more frequently sold off in bulk, for building estates, where builders, and hence the houses they built, were not so restricted. The title to the covenants passed with that of the Lord of the Manor from The Freeholders Company Limited in the middle of the last Century; they are now owned by Howard Gooddie.

Over the years, owners who have developed plots in the district have agreed terms with the covenant owner. If it is you or your purchaser's intention to redevelop an affected plot it will need a variation of the covenant beforehand. Planning and Building Regulation permissions do not cover covenants.

Alternatively, if you are thinking of selling your house as it stands and you have made alterations to the appearance of the building, your purchaser's Bank or Building Society may well need to check that you have had permission. A submission of plans, or just of the planning approval, is suitable for retrospective consent. if you feel you are likely to be affected and need to revise your covenants, the resources above are available.