Charlotte Church has confirmed rumours she has bought Laura Ashley’s former Rhayader home - and will turn it into an off-grid commune.

The classical singer had a £1.5m offer accepted on the historic 500-year-old seven-bedroom mansion, known as Rhydoldog House, just outside Rhayader, which is set amongst stunning 47 acre grounds and was sold by the Ashley family after 36 years of ownership in 2009.

Mother-of-three Charlotte, 35, is now looking to transform the site into a haven where people can “reconnect with themselves and the natural world” following the pandemic.

She revealed she plans to create a “non-hierarchical participatory democracy” that will include mixed martial arts, spiritual healing practices like yoga and a creative space for writers, musicians and artists.

She is also planning cycling, archery, foraging, hiking, strength and conditioning training and star-gazing at the luxury estate, as well as introducing a hot-tub, plunge pool and outdoor cinema.

She wrote: “At Rhydoldog House, a small, democratic building community is welcoming volunteers to live, work and learn on a radical and inspiring new wellness project: building an accessible, zero-emissions, off-grid, healing retreat centre in the heart of Wales.

“Our vision for this community is one that can support the physical, spiritual, mental and emotional needs of all its members. If this sounds like something you’d be interested in, please check out our website.

“We’d love to hear from you all.”

She added: “Our community will be held together by a system of non-hierarchical participatory democracy, where each member of the community has the right to an equal say and vote on decisions about how the community is run.

“A fundamental part of the mission is sustainability and having as little impact upon the environment as possible”.

Work converting the property into a retreat is expected to take 12 months, with the completion date around June next year.

Rhayader Town Council had previously been so inundated with enquiries about the possibility of Church’s arrival that they issued a public statement.

A spokesperson said: “Rhayader Town Council have received numerous calls to confirm whether Charlotte Church has acquired Rhydoldog Farm, one of the fantastic properties situated within our constituency.

“We are unable to confirm this, but if it is true, we can only welcome Charlotte and her family to Rhayader and Cwmdauddwr. She will be welcomed with open arms into our fantastic community, as are others who move to this exceptional part of the world.”

Laura Ashely lived in the home with her husband Sir Bernard for 12 years from 1973 until she died in 1985.

In addition to its use as a family home, it was also frequently used for the promotion of Laura Ashley and its products and was the backdrop for the fashion brand’s iconic photo shoots of clothing ranges.

The surrounding grounds were even said to have inspired the designer’s famed floral prints that continue to this day.