It is one of the architectural treasures of Britain, sitting in a 3,000-acre estate of protected green belt in a designated Area Of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
But Foreign Secretary David Lammy has been accused of wanting to concrete over some of the carefully maintained land of his grace-and-favour estate, Chevening, to build housing.
The politician is said to have told a meeting of diplomats he feels ‘uncomfortable’ with the size of the historic estate on the Kent Downs – and suggested the land could be better used for homes.
A source in the room said they were ‘shocked’ at the comments Mr Lammy made to UK embassy staff, many of whom were meeting the new Foreign Secretary for the first time.
‘He said it had too much green space and needs to be built on,’ the insider said. ‘He effectively said he wants to concrete over Chevening.’
Foreign Secretary David Lammy has been accused of wanting to concrete over some of the carefully maintained land of his grace-and-favour estate, Chevening, to build housing
‘He said it had too much green space and needs to be built on,’ an insider said, though sources close to Mr Lammy denied the claims
An Act of Parliament allows the Prime Minister to nominate who can use Chevening. It was used by Liz Truss (seen in green) when she was Foreign Secretary
However sources close to Mr Lammy denied the claims, which they said were ‘utter b******s’, and added that no such plans to build on Chevening were being made.
The Grade I listed mansion and its estate were bequeathed to the nation in 1967. The King lived there for six years in the 1970s, but more recently it has been used by Foreign Secretaries to help project Britain’s ‘soft power’.
Local councillor Nigel Williams said: ‘It is extremely important for the Foreign Secretary to take dignitaries there because it is highly impressive.’
The Conservative politician said Mr Lammy’s reported comments showed an ‘ignorance’ about the significance of the estate.
‘It is quite shocking and shows a lack of knowledge about the community,’ he told The Mail on Sunday.
‘These are not just lovely gardens – it is also working land, it is farming land. The ecosystem is extremely complicated, with a lot of wildlife and birds of prey.’
It is understood Mr Lammy has not been using the mansion, which has been undergoing a refurbishment. The Foreign Office declined to comment on whether he intends to start using it.
An Act of Parliament allows the Prime Minister to nominate who can use Chevening, but it must be a Cabinet Minister or a descendant of George VI.
While use of the Palladian mansion is usually granted to Foreign Secretaries, they do not have the power to order building on the protected land, as the estate is managed by a Trust.
Sources say Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner is pushing to have access to the country house too
The reported comments offer a new twist to an alleged behind-the-scenes tussle over the use of the mansion.
Sources say Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner is pushing to have access to the country house, having lost out the keys to another grace-and-favour mansion, Dorneywood in Buckinghamshire, to Chancellor Rachel Reeves.
Ms Rayner is also the Housing Secretary, charged with implementing Labour’s manifesto pledge to build 1.5 million new homes to alleviate the country’s housing crisis.
Built between 1617 and 1630 to a design reputedly by Inigo Jones, Chevening was bequeathed to the nation by Lord Stanhope, the last of a distinguished political dynasty in 1967. Its grounds include 40 acres of gardens featuring a lake, a maze and a walled kitchen garden.
