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02
Sept
Councillors unanimously support plans to revive Ripon Spa Baths
Plans that will safeguard the future of Ripon’s Spa Baths building and add to the renaissance of the city’s spa quarter received a resounding vote of confidence this afternoon (September 2).
North Yorkshire Council’s Skipton and Ripon planning committee unanimously voted in favour of proposals to rejuvenate the iconic building and open up public access to the adjacent Spa Gardens at a meeting in Ripon Town Hall.
The scheme, proposed by Ripon-based property investment and development company Sterne Properties Limited, will see the swimming pool hall behind the grade two listed building demolished and the remaining part of the spa converted into commercial units.
There will be a new build glazed extension, and the former boiler house and water tower will be transformed into three small offices, while the rear of the Park Street site will see the construction of four two-bedroom residential flats.
The iconic facade of the the grade two listed spa building will be retained as part of the site's overall rejuvenation
Councillor Barbara Brodigan, who represents the Ure Bank and Spa division on the council, said:
I wholeheartedly welcome these plans. The spa quarter is going through a renaissance at the moment, with redevelopment of the former Spa Hotel and the work at Café in The Park and this will add significantly to the economic development of the area.
Cllr Andrew Williams who represents Minster and Moorside on North Yorkshire Council and is also the leader of Ripon City Council, said:
We initially had our own proposals for a leisure-based scheme run as an asset of community value, but the risk to the city council was enormous and there was no way of making it financially viable.
I commend the applicant for working with the council and coming forward with plans that gained a broad degree of support.
They have a proven track record of redeveloping sites in Ripon and bringing redundant buildings back to life.
Cllr Andy Brown, who represents Aire Valley, described the frontage of the Spa Building as ‘one of the joys of Ripon’ and said he was "delighted that with these plans it is going to be retained".
Robert Sterne, a director of Sterne Properties Limited, was present at the meeting and afterwards told the Stray Ferret:
We thank the committee for their positive reaction to our plans and we look forward to getting on with work at Spa Baths at the earliest opporunity.
Like the vast majority of people in Ripon, we want to see the site returned to its former glory.
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