Plans to sell Edward Heath's former home

The trustees have decided to apply to the Charity Commission for permission to sell the property, blaming operating costs for the decision.

More than 15,000 people have visited Arundells in the last two years.

Sir Edward, who died in July 2005, left his £5million estate to a charitable foundation which included opening his home for the education of the public.

On display are many of Sir Edward’s possessions that give an insight into his career and varied interests.

But the Sir Edward Heath Charitable Foundation say that the costs of opening, running and maintaining the house and garden far outweigh the revenue raised from visitors.

The Foundation has no other sources of income and says it does not have sufficient resources to keep Arundells, which was Sir Edward’s home for the last 20 years of his life, open indefinitely.

Today, the trustees released a statement saying that they had come to the conclusion that the Foundation could never be viable on the income of visitors alone.

They have decided not to seek an extension of the planning and listed buildings consents for the opening of the house, which are due to expire at the end of 2010.

If the Charity Commission gives its permission, they plan to sell Arundells so it can be reverted to residential use and the proceeds of the sale will go to other charitable purposes provided for in Sir Edward’s will.

This would include musical and other education charities in which he had a strong interest.

They say that this would make 2010 the last year that Arundells is open to the public.

The house will be open each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday from 12.30pm to 5.30pm from April 3 to October 27 inclusive, and on Sundays on selected Bank Holiday weekends. Further details of these arrangements with dates and times are available at www.arundells.org, e-mail contact at info@arundells.org, or by telephone on the booking line on 01722 326 546.