The owner of Mentmore Towers, the country estate used as Wayne Manor in Christopher Nolan's Batman films, has publicly responded to a listed-building repairs notice issued by Buckinghamshire Council. The notice, served last month, compels the owners to conduct bat surveys and repair the mansion's masonry, with fears that the property could be repossessed if action is not taken.
A spokesman for the Grade I-listed mansion stated that the owners have already initiated a "bat team" to conduct emergence surveys and that "professional surveys, ecological investigations and preparatory work towards a programme of repairs and restoration are already actively progressing." The spokesman also emphasized that the suggestion that nothing is being done at the property is false, adding that "specialist surveys" and a "bat-survey programme" are underway and a schedule of works is being prepared.
Property's Condition and Council Concerns
Mentmore Towers, built between 1852 and 1854 for the Rothschild family and a significant work by architect Sir Joseph Paxton, has been described by Historic England as being in "very bad" condition with "high" vulnerability. Photographs accompanying the council's notice show cracked walls, broken windows, and ivy, with bat droppings noted during a property visit. The council's notice requires the owner to demonstrate the appointment of a contractor experienced in repairing listed buildings. Failure to comply could lead the council to seek government approval for acquisition and pursue further legal action.
Three bat-emergence surveys are mandated by August 2027, along with any necessary Natural England licenses. Council and Historic England officers must be permitted weekly inspections once work commences. Peter Strachan, Buckinghamshire Council's Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Planning, confirmed the council's priority is protecting the building and that they are aware of and taking enforcement action on works carried out without planning permission.
Owner's Counterarguments and History
The owner's representatives pushed back against the council's actions, asserting that the council's legal intervention led to the removal of security fencing, which in turn has resulted in "repeated unauthorised entry and trespass." They contend that the temporary fencing was necessary to protect the building and its materials, and that its removal, alongside efforts to demolish a storage structure for repair materials, contradicts the objective of securing and restoring the mansion.
Syrian-British businessman Simon Halabi purchased Mentmore Towers in 1999 with initial plans to convert it into a luxury hotel. These plans were halted in 2004 by a High Court injunction and later abandoned due to the collapse of his property company amidst the housing market downturn. The property's associated company, Mentmore Towers Ltd, is currently listed as dormant, according to Companies House filings in May. The mansion has also served as a filming location for other Hollywood productions, including "The Mummy Returns" and "Johnny English," and music videos.
The owners concluded their statement by advocating for "constructive engagement," urging recognition of the work already undertaken and consistency in working towards the preservation and restoration of the building.