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23
Jun
Civic centre sale raises questions about the future of public buildings in Harrogate district
The future of public buildings in the Harrogate district has come under the spotlight following the sale of a landmark building in Northallerton.
North Yorkshire Council announced last week it had sold the Stone Cross in Northallerton to a company that will turn it into a 66-bed care home.
The Stray Ferret has asked how much the building was sold for after the council did not disclose the information.
The Stone Cross was built in 1981 and was the headquarters of Hambleton District Council until local government reorganisation in 2023.
It was one of seven district council headquarters, including Harrogate Borough Council’s offices at St Luke’s Mount, off King’s Road, inherited by the newly formed North Yorkshire Council three years ago.
The cash-strapped council now owns 3,200 buildings in total and the sale of Stone Cross begs the question: will others follow?
Deputy leader, Councillor Gareth Dadd, indicated nothing was off the table.
He said:
When this council was launched three years ago, we inherited a large number of buildings across North Yorkshire that were underutilised while still incurring significant costs to the taxpayer. I am pleased that the deal has now been completed.
We have a responsibility to strategically review and manage the buildings we own, ensuring that every asset is used effectively so we deliver the best value for money to residents, without compromising the quality of services that we provide.
The sale of Stone Cross will generate a significant capital return that can be reinvested into other priority areas and make substantial savings in running costs.
Knaresborough House. Photo: Andy Grinter.
More sales to come?
Following his comments, the Stray Ferret asked the council if it planned to sell Harrogate Civic Centre or review its future use. A spokesperson said there were “no plans” to sell it.
Other council-owned buildings in Harrogate include the under-performing investment asset the Royal Baths, which includes several empty units, Harrogate Convention Centre and the Sun Pavilion.
In Knaresborough, council properties include Conyngham Hall and the crumbling and little-used Knaresborough House, which is the subject of ongoing debate about its future.
In a social media post on Saturday (June 20), Knaresborough Civic Society urged people in the town to share their thoughts on what they feel Knaresborough House could be used for.
The society described the building, which was built in 1768 to designs by John Carr of York, as “one of the town’s most important buildings”.
(left to right) Council leader Cllr Carl Les, Mayoress of Ripon, Cllr Jackie Crozier, Mayor of Ripon, Cllr Andrew Williams, and North Yorkshire Council’s executive member for corporate services, Cllr Heather Phillips outside Ripon Town Hall.
Its future is being debated after Ripon City Council secured a deal with North Yorkshire Council to lease Ripon Town Hall on a 100-year lease for a peppercorn rent.
Similar deals are in the pipeline for the Wakeman’s House and Hugh Ripley Hall.
Ripon residents will be invited to attend open days this summer to see the rundown building and have their say on what they would like it to be used for.
Ripon appears to have secured the future of three of the city’s most important and valuable assets.
But the sale of the former civic centre in Northallerton will have left people in other parts of the district feeling nervous about whether their council-owned buildings will also be sold.
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