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16
Jul
Plans submitted to convert historic Harrogate chapel
Plans to change a former Harrogate chapel into an office have been submitted.
The application, which was received by North Yorkshire Council last week, seeks approval to convert the Grade II-listed building The Chapel on Grove Road into an office with an "ancillary showroom space".
The news comes after Mark Hinchliffe last year listed the iconic building for sale at auction.
Mr Hinchcliffe bought the property in 2013 and initially lived there. He spent four years converting it into an eclectic bed and breakfast, which featured on Channel 4’s The Restoration Man.
It was listed with property auctioneers Allsop with a guide price of £850,000-plus, after the price had been lowered twice in the years prior.
It was originally listed for £1.5 million in 2020, before the asking price dropped to £1 million in April 2023.
However, the 19th century building did not sell and remained vacant. According to the planning application, the doors to the bed and breakfast closed in January this year.
'Substantial' media coverage
Documents submitted in support of the application suggest it could be entering a new lease of life. Although they provide little detail about the building’s future use, they suggest a change of ownership.
A letter submitted by Leeds-based planning agent, Peacock and Smith, cites Dishang (Cherry) Ltd as the applicant – a garment manufacturer currently registered at The Exchange on Station Parade, according to Companies House.
The letter adds several offers have been made to take on the property as a guest house or residential home since 2020, but none were accepted.
More than 100,000 people have seen advertisements to run the site as a guest house, the letter says, adding the “substantial” media coverage suggests if somebody wanted to take on The Chapel they have had “plenty of opportunities over the past four years”.
The agent adds:
We can therefore confirm that the existing use of the building as a guest house has been market-tested and there have been no successful bids.
However, my client has had their offer accepted and wishes to change the use of the building, confirming that this is the optimum viable use for the building.
Documents propose converting the existing open living space on the ground floor to an office area.
Although the application proposes to scrap all six bedrooms as part of the development, it states it will retain bedrooms for “staff use only”. It does not state how many will be retained or re-developed.
Orangery and library
The Stray Ferret contacted Mr Hinchcliffe about the application. We asked if the property had finally been sold and for more details on its future use.
However, he said he “can’t really confirm anything yet” for confidentiality purposes.
The Chapel comprises six ensuite bathrooms; two separate bathrooms; two reception rooms; a vaulted drawing room; a dining room; an orangery and a library.
It also boasts a large entrance hall and a 50ft atrium, as well as a utility room and plant room.
North Yorkshire Council is yet to decide on the outcome of the application.
In a separate application, also lodged to the council last week, the same applicant is seeking listed building consent to carry out internal alterations at The Chapel.
It does not provide any further detail about the proposed change of use.
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