Pennsylvania Castle is a Grade II Neo-Gothic listed building, located on the top of the Great Southwell Landslip andan important SSSI cliff on the east coast of the Isle of Portland. The site overlooks Church Ope Cove, part of the UNESCO Heritage Jurassic Coast. The Castle has been both a private home and a hotel since the 1950’s and is now a prestigious hotel, a wedding venue and film location.

The Clifftop site, which is part of the Pennsylvania Castle estate, is located between the two listed castles, Pennsylvania and Rufus Castle, the 15th century ruin remains on the site of a 12th century castle. It is a highly sensitive site which is set in a natural step in the terrain directly above the cliff to the coast, a Site of Special Scientific Interest.  The Clifftops project comprises of five permanent, holiday lodges designed as luxury accommodation and to take advantage of the panoramic views out across the English Channel. The lodges are intended to complement the wild landscape and context of the site and set the development into the cliff by the use of Portland stone and rugged walls, as advised by Historic England. The roofs are covered in native coastal grasses, so the residences will be both hidden from view from the Pennsylvania Castle above and will merge into the cliff in views from passing boats.

A masterplan and LVIA were undertaken to ensure the siting and form of 6 accommodation apartments to be set on the cliff, were visually unobtrusive and ecologically enhancing planting strategy for cliff location and ecology.
Services included a Landscape and Visual Impact assessment.

Designations
World Heritage Site, Jurassic Coast.
SSSI
Pennsylvania CastleGrade II Listed

Client:         Colonial Leisure Ltd
Architect:        Morrow Lorraine