MAJOR plans have been unveiled to turn an historic manor house in West Somerset into a modern-day centre of excellence for folk music and dancing.

An activity centre, new performance space and additional residential accommodation would be created at Halsway Manor near Crowcombe - the National Centre for the Folk Arts - if planning permission is granted.

Detailed proposals for the project at the Grade II Listed building have been submitted to West Somerset Council by its owners, the Halsway Manor Society.

The proposed works would be carried out in three phases and would also include a lift and new entrance to ensure the building can cater for guests in wheelchairs and those using mobility scooters.

There would also be a fourth phase, for which plans have yet to be submitted.

Agents Chedburn Dudley, acting on behalf of the society and its chief executive Paul James, said the charity's main aim was to increase access to folk arts for everyone.

"The purpose of the proposed activity centre is to provide facilities for an annual programme of folk arts educational activities, including for younger people, and a venue for local groups," they said.

"For example the Halsway Choir, Halsway Folk Dance Club, West Somerset Morris Men, as well as other local community not-for-profit groups and organisations, particularly those whose aims support local culture, heritage and the natural environment.

"Much of the work to the main house is seen as relievin' certain areas of the house from their current service operations and allowing some of the historic areas to be repaired and refurbished, thereby, reverting to their original intent.

"The project aims to improve visitor facilities within the existing buildings while providing modern service elements, such as kitchens, toilets, laundry etc, together with additional residential accommodation in purpose-built extensions to the west and to the rear."

The first phase of the work will be to construct an oak-framed activity centre in a wooded area behind the main house.

It would be set into sloping ground with a glazed front, cedar shingle roofing and a new access path to ensure full access for people with disabilities.

The agents said the overall appearance of the manor and the gardens would remain unchanged as a result of the new activity centre as it would largely be hidden from view.

"The site chosen is not visible from either Halsway Lane or the main A358 link road and is protected from more distant views by the surrounding hills," the agents said in the planning application.

The centre would have its own kitchen, toilets, workshop space and teaching rooms.

The second phase of the works would be an extension to the back of the main manor house, and conservation and renovation works.

The extension would provide space for service facilities currently found in the main house, including kitchens, toilets, staff areas and a laundry.

It would also allow the society to install a lift, giving disabled visitors access to the upper floors for the first time.

Currently, guests with mobility problems have access to just one disabled-friendly bedroom on the ground floor.

The agents said: "The first and second floors are currently not accessible at all for people with mobility difficulties.

"Being an old building in its bones, some of the door widths, corridors and winding stairs are narrow.

"Whilst quirky and popular, improving the width of some door openings and removing raised thresholds to others, especially when entering bedrooms, is seen as advantageous but impractical in an old building.

"Therefore, new accommodation would need to cover these difficulties of access."

The extension works would include the creation of new dining room facilities, the restoration of ground floor rooms, improvements to the layout of parts of the first floor, and new bedrooms.

Phase three of the project would involve the creation of a "performance wing" in a new single-storey extension to provide a dedicated 150 capacity venue for dance, concerts and lectures.

"The overall appearance of the manor and gardens will remain largely unchanged as a result of the proposed works, since the works are to the rear and side of the main building.

"No changes to the front or west facades themselves are envisaged and those at the east end will be undertaken to a design to match surrounding works.

"The new rear extension and performance wing are to be modern in design but complimentary to the existing, being kept low-key in scale.

"The use of natural cladding materials such as oak and cedar boarding will help the new construction to blend with the old, while grass roofs will reduce the impact of the new extensions within the garden setting," the agents said.

The final fourth phase of the work, which does not form part of the current planning applications submitted to the district council, would include alterations to the existing mews building, including a new extension, to provide additional en suite bedrooms and full disabled access.