Restoring a Local Legacy Built in 1928 for Sir Woodman Burbidge, then-chairman of Harrods, Cisswood House Hotel has long been one of West Sussex’s most distinctive rural retreats — known locally as “Harrods in the country.” Set within almost two hectares of grounds in Lower Beeding near Horsham, the property currently offers 52 guest bedrooms, a restaurant, health club, conference facilities, and a licensed wedding venue. Smith & Newton Architects have been appointed to help realise a bold vision to breathe new life into this storied building, bringing it firmly back into its prime as a destination hotel for the region.
A Thoughtful Expansion The proposed redevelopment seeks to significantly enhance the hotel’s offer while respecting its rural setting and the character of the surrounding village. Plans include the creation of up to 78 additional guest rooms — bringing the total to 130 — alongside a distinct new entrance for the gym and spa to support independent memberships, expanded conference and food & beverage facilities, improved arrival and car parking, and the demolition and replacement of the existing staff quarters with new purpose-built guest accommodation. Development will be limited to two storeys in height, with biodiversity enhancement and landscaping woven throughout the scheme. A small number of new private residential dwellings are also proposed on the northern edge of the site, in the area of the former disused outdoor swimming pool.
Designed for Place and Community Working closely with Horsham District Council and in full awareness of the Lower Beeding Neighbourhood Plan, the design team at Smith & Newton is committed to a proposal that supports the local rural economy, creates new employment, and delivers a hospitality offer that serves both the community and visitors to the High Weald. The scheme has been developed with the Horsham District Planning Framework’s tourism and rural economic development policies at its core — recognising that the district has very few hotels and that Cisswood House, sensitively expanded, represents a rare opportunity to strengthen that offer for generations to come.