Planning permission is being sought for the renovation of an 18th century manor house in North Hertfordshire.

A planning application for internal alterations to Hexton Manor - a Grade II-listed building five miles outside Hitchin - has been submitted to North Herts Council.

The proposed alterations include replacing the existing hall floor, renovating the timber panelling in the hall and dining room, installing trench heaters on the ground floor, creating a wine room, and installing plumbing, underfloor heating and electrical works on the first and second floors.

A 'scope of works' document accompanying the planning application says the manor house is deteriorating "mainly due to weather ingress" and is "therefore in need of significant investment and renovation".

It says: "The current owner is committed to attending to the defects and therefore safeguarding the property for the future."

The parquet floor in the hall, believed to have been imported from Belgium in the early 20th century, has "a thin thin veneer and has been poorly maintained for several decades", the document says.

"Refurbishment of this floor would be difficult as all of the darker petals to the pattern are Rosewood, which is no longer permitted to be used in the UK."

The plan is to replace the parquet floor with grey stone tiles.

"As part of these extensive renovation works," the 'scope of works' document goes on, "we are intending to employ a team of highly skilled French polishers to renovate the timber panelling in the hall and dining room."

Meanwhile, the proposed alterations also include creating a glass-walled wine room in the lobby next to the main kitchen, to "create a stunning focal point within the home".

To view the planning application in full, visit north-herts.gov.uk and search for reference 24/02133/LBC in the planning portal.