A £60million plan to regenerate a north Suffolk estate as well as bolster leisure and tourism in the area has been revealed. Hektor Rous, who manages Henham Park for his father, the maverick “Aussie” Earl of Stradbroke, Keith Rous, has revealed an outline planning application to build a new Henham Hall which will be a hotel with apartments.

A £60million plan to regenerate a north Suffolk estate as well as bolster leisure and tourism in the area has been revealed.

Hektor Rous, who manages Henham Park for his father, the maverick “Aussie” Earl of Stradbroke, Keith Rous, has revealed an outline planning application to build a new Henham Hall which will be a hotel with apartments.

It will consist of restaurants, conference and function rooms, an auditorium, a beauty spa and fitness and sports facilities.

Mr Rous said the proposed hotel and apartments would regenerate Henham Park, create jobs and boost leisure and tourism in the area.

He said: “It's going to fit in with the growing tourism within Waveney and Suffolk and make this part of the world even more well known and recognised.

“Many people don't realise how diverse this county is.”

Mr Rous said the hotel would act as a base for visitors to explore the region as they would be able to go to the various events at Henham Park, go horse riding, go to the Marina in Lowestoft and visit Southwold.

He said: “It's a big opportunity to build something that's significant in the area and this development could be a platform for promoting the rest of the county.

“It would be nice to make something for our era and I would like to see something contemporary there.”

He has been in negotiations with Suffolk County Council, Waveney District Council, Suffolk Coastal District Council, Natural England and English Heritage to discuss plans.

The outline planning application is hoped to be submitted by the end of the year after an environmental impact assessment.

Planning permission to build a new hall on the 4200-acre estate, to replace the one that was knocked down in 1953, was granted in February this year.

Mr Rous said: “Hopefully this will be Henham Hall number four and it will last - there's not a lot of iconic buildings in the area so it will put it on the map.

“I think it will serve the community and Henham Park and no one cares more about this park than this family.”

His father, Keith Rous, said it was wonderful news that his son was doing something about the hall at last.

He said: “May the new hall rise like the phoenix from the ashes of 1953.”