Five teenagers have been charged with arson over a devastating blaze that gutted a historic mansion designed by the architect of Buckingham Palace and Marble Arch.
The John Nash Grade II*-listed Rheola House, in south Wales, had been due to be turned into a luxury retreat with a bar, restaurant, swimming pool and spa.
But the mansion near Neath has now been all but completely destroyed in a ‘devastating setback’ following the fire on August 18.
Five teenagers aged 17 to 19 have been charged over the fire at the mansion, designed by Nash, who also created Brighton‘s Royal Pavilion.
Kyle Renzoni, 18, Ellis Harding, 19, Yian Foster, 18, Evan Traynor, 18, and a 17-year-old boy who cannot be named due to his age have all been charged with arson with recklessness as to whether life was endangered.
Jason Brook, CEO of owners The Brook Group, said: ‘We have faced multiple challenges since our involvement with Rheola, and for this to occur after we had finally resolved many of the issues that had prevented us from taking our proposals forward is desperately upsetting.
‘The damage to the main house is extremely significant. We will now be taking professional advice on the consequences of the fire and will liaise with the appropriate authorities to determine the next steps.
‘Our sincere hope is that, despite this devastating setback, we will be able to emerge from this tragedy and continue with our plans for the Rheola Estate and its future.’
The John Nash Grade II-listed Rheola House, in south Wales, had been due to be turned into a luxury retreat with a bar, restaurant, swimming pool and spa
But the mansion near Neath has now been all but completely destroyed in a ‘devastating setback’ following the fire on August 18
Mr Brook thanked the firefighters who battled the blaze.
He said: ‘We would first like to recognise and pay tribute to the firefighters who attended the scene and fought bravely and tirelessly to try to contain the fire at Rheola House.
‘The house is in a remote location, which makes the efforts of fire crews in these circumstances even more challenging, and we are extremely relieved that all of the emergency service personnel who attended are safe.
‘We would also like to commend and applaud the swift actions of South Wales Police which has lead to the apprehension of five people who have now been charged.’
Rheola House was built between 1812 and 1818 and the estate spans more than 110 acres.
Although Nash’s most famous works are in London and the south of England he also spent considerable time in Wales.
He moved to Carmarthen in 1784 and lived there for three years, undertaking a string of local projects before returning to London, where he found fame being commissioned by the then-Prince Regent.
Some of his other works include The Rotunda at Carlton House, The Haymarket Theatre, Park Crescent and Regent’s Street.
Yian Foster, 18, is one of five people charged with arson over the blaze (Pictured in uniform for the Military Preparation College for Training, which helps prepare young people for a future career in the military)
Rheola House was built between 1812 and 1818 and the estate spans more than 110 acres
The house had previously been described as an ‘important early 19th century country house in the picturesque tradition’ by Welsh heritage body Cadw
The Brook Group’s plans for Rheola House include 295 lodges, restaurants, a sports complex, commercial zones and the redevelopment of the mansion itself into a boutique hotel.
The house has been described by Welsh heritage body Cadw as ‘an important early 19th century country house in the picturesque tradition’.
It previously made headlines after a businessman and his accomplice were convicted of using the site to run a £2.6million illegal waste racket.
Howard Rees, 65, and 53-year-old Huw Leyshon concealed the waste alongside the building by using large excavators and then flattening the ground on top.
They plotted to dump materials including biohazardous waste such as used syringes and clinical tools from hospitals.
Rees pocketed £1.4million in the scam before putting his countryside mansion up for sale for £750,000 and selling it in 2021.
Cattle farmer Leyshon made £1.2million in the scheme.
