A country mansion which was once home of a distinguished family could soon be welcoming holiday lets.

The Salomons Estate, near Tunbridge Wells, was taken over by Elite Leisure Collection in 2013 who have now revealed plans for a revamp.

The company has already invested £32.2m in the estate but now want to re-instate its original character through landscape restoration, converting the imposing stable block, known as Runcie Court, and increasing the accommodation and function room space.

The firm said the project would promote local tourism and help it to generate the funds necessary to restore the estate’s main building, Salomons House, which has been an important historical site for over 190 years.

Salomons House was designed by Decimus Burton for Sir David Salomons, one of the founding members of what is now the NatWest Bank and the first ever-Jewish Lord Mayor of London.

He left it to his nephew, Sir David Lionel Salomons, who was a keen scientist and engineer, and was the first person to instal electricity into a private home.

A keen motorist, he successfully lobbyed to have the law changed to allow the new vehicles to go faster than 4mph.

Currently, Salomons Estate employs 78 members of staff, houses 23 businesses, and holds 75 weddings a year.

Elite Leisure Collection engaged architect Dr Gaby Higgs to draw up new plans for the Grade II listed building.

She said: "I set out to investigate, survey, photograph and talk to as many people as possible to understand what makes Salomons so special.

"I wanted to find out who works there, who visits and how the estate connects with Tunbridge Wells and the community."

She said that under her designs: "The buildings will be restored and re-purposed for long-term viable and sustainable uses, maximising their potential to create employment, and attracting both tourists and local visitors to enjoy spending time at Salomons."

In the first phase of the works, the landscape and views will be improved by replacing the parking bays that line the main drive with trees, and re-locating the car park to a more discreet spot.

Lost pathways will be restored and new entrance gates installed.

In the second phase, work is under way to convert the estates potting sheds to four accommodation units. Work should be completed this month.

The third phase has yet to secure planning permission, the plan is convert the large stable block, known as Runcie Court, to provide 17 short-stay accommodation suites.

Period features such as decorative tiles, joinery, and relics of the stable-use will be retained, and the ground floor and courtyard kept as an area of public space for events.

The firm has just submitted its planning application for the Grade ll* building to Tunbridge Wells Borough Council, with planning reference number 22/02425.

Those interested in learning more about the proposals can visit the Salomons Museum on the estate. Admission is free, and visitors can also learn the history of the Salomon family and their home.