A historic building that was originally bequeathed to Marlovians is set to be turned into flats.

Work has started to convert Grade-II listed New Court manor, in Liston Court, into nine apartments to be sold off privately, with scaffolding seen around the building.

Developers say the flats will benefit from the transformation, retaining period features and looking “much nicer” and “well-looked after”.

Justin Gurney, joint MD at Lennox Estates Group, said: “We are restoring a lot of the really lovely principal rooms.

“There are going to be four substantial two-bedroom flats. We are reinstating the reception rooms and bedrooms to their former glory by restoring a lot of the period features.”

The site was owned by the Liston family until Nesta Sybil Liston’s death in 1970, when she donated the house and grounds to the then Urban District Council of Marlow.

Wycombe District Council then transferred the whole site to Red Kite Community Housing in 2011 with the rest of its housing stock – minus part of the gardens and the car park which are still maintained as public space by WDC.

Red Kite made the decision to sell off the manor in 2015, saying it was not fit for purpose and there was nothing in the deeds to prevent it being sold, with proceeds needed to reinvest in social housing projects

But the decision to sell the older part of the house sparked an outcry from residents, with many angry that Red Kite should be allowed to part with such a historic landmark and saying it should have been put to community use.

At the time Red Kite also said it was a “common misconception” that Liston House belonged to the town, with only part of the gardens ring-fenced for public use when the council handed it over.

The building is now being stripped out in preparation for the works, which are expected to complete in December this year.

Mr Gurney added: “We are aiming to have show apartments completed by the end of July.

“People will still be able to appreciate [the building] but it’s going to be in a much better condition now.

“It was lacking a lot of TLC and we are giving it that. The facelift it is going to get will bring it firmly up-to-date.

“It will look much nicer and well-kept – it will be a feature in Marlow.”

- What do you think of the plans? Let us know in the comments below or email shruti.sheth@london.newsquest.co.uk.