PLANS for a new wedding venue at a historic building in Romsey have been approved.

The Orangery at Broadlands will be able to host wedding ceremonies and receptions from next Summer, where 180 guests could attend each event.

The plans were approved by Test Valley Borough Council's (TVBC) planning chiefs yesterday, meaning the Grade-II listed building can now be used from 8am to 11pm.

It will be available to book from May to September.

As reported, the applicant, The Broadlands Estate, proposed the Orangery should only be used for one event per week.

Guests should be able to park on the Park, approximately 50 yards north of the Orangery, and other gatherings which could be held at the building include lunches, dinners, drink parties, meetings, product launches and photoshoots.

One community leader had her say on the application, stressing the venue will probably "not be cheap" for couples who are looking to tie the knot.

Cllr Dorothy Baverstock, who represents Romsey Cupernham on the borough council, said: "That is very interesting because it seemed they were never really interested in having members of the public there, as they opened for a short amount of time for visits, so there seems to have been a big change of heart.

"[The Broadlands] was a family home, but now Lady Brabourne lives there, so maybe that is the reason they want to change the use of the Orangery so it has more of a business-like appeal."

When asked if she thinks people will flock to the estate for weddings, she said: "It is one of those things where it depends how much it costs and to make it a successful wedding venue you have to have chefs and other employees, so I don't think it will be a cheap experience at all."

The agent for the plans, Purcell, has been contacted for comment.

The Broadlands has hosted two royal honeymoons - the Queen and Prince Philip, who spent their wedding night there in 1947, including Charles and Diana who visited the 86-acre manor in 1981.