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15
Feb
Ripon Cathedral annexe plans withdrawn: a ‘vindication for campaigners’ or a ‘once in a generation opportunity lost’?
When Ripon City Council voted 7-1 in December to object to the cathedral’s plans to build an £8 million annexe in Minster Gardens, it felt like a fatal blow.
It was difficult to see such overwhelming opposition from Ripon itself being overcome when the decision went to North Yorkshire Council.
Two months later, the cathedral has finally admitted defeat. The Very Reverend John Dobson, Dean of Ripon, said in a statement yesterday (February 14) the cathedral had withdrawn its plans.
Dean John’s statement acknowledged the damage done by the city council’s vote as well as the requirement for “ever more proof of viability and justification within the planning system” as reasons for the decision.
The Ripon City Council meeting in December 2024.
He said this is not the end of the matter, adding the cathedral will now “work constructively with North Yorkshire Council and Ripon City Council” on new plans that are part of a wider vision for a cathedral quarter.
But that appears a distant prospect and for now campaigners who opposed the plans, which would have seen the loss of trees, are celebrating after a long-running and often bitter campaign.
Reacting to the news, a spokesperson for the Save Our Trees campaign said:
It is a vindication for campaigners who have tirelessly fought for the past two years to protect the local park against a large development and developer.
In a sense, it is unfortunate that the proposal has not been rejected by the council, but has been withdrawn by the applicant, which avoids the scrutiny and judgment of the planning councillors. We hope that this does not mean a renewed attempt once the media spotlight moves on.
We cautiously welcome the further development and amendment of the plans, but also note that this move might simply be an attempt to render the large, significant petition invalid.
Trees in Minster Gardens.
The spokesperson added they hoped the cathedral’s decision “signals a genuine commitment to work more closely with the city of Ripon and to listen to the local community”.
'Lost economic benefit to the city'
The Cathedral Support Group, which backed the annexe, did not hide its disappointment at the news.
Group member Dennis Tarter said the annexe was designed to address “critical needs”, including accessible public toilets, safe and secure rehearsal space for choristers, adequate storage to prevent damage to the cathedral’s ancient stonework, a communal meeting area for school groups, visitors, staff and volunteers and a refectory to improve hospitality.
Mr Tarter added:
These critical needs will now not take place. It is a once in a generation opportunity that is lost. There will be an economic impact to the cathedral and a lost economic benefit to the city and region. There is a cost for inaction and we shouldn’t take the cathedral for granted that it will always be there and available as can be seen by the difficulties with other cathedrals like Peterborough.
Peterborough Cathedral launched a £300,000 fundraising appeal last month to remain open seven days a week.
A group statement said it “remains committed to the long-term vision of enhancing Ripon Cathedral’s facilities in a way that respects its heritage while meeting the needs of the wider community”, adding:
Moving forward, we encourage open dialogue and collaboration to explore alternative solutions that will support the cathedral’s mission and its role in serving the people of Ripon.
Wider vision
Dean John said the cathedral believed it was working within the Ripon Neighbourhood Plan to 2030, a strategic document that outlines the development vision for Ripon up to 2030.
The plan, which was adopted in 2019, talks about dividing the city into quarters, “each with its own atmosphere yet together adding to the city centre’s vitality and viability”.
There would be a market place quarter, a northern quarter, a cathedral precinct quarter and a spa quarter.
The plan adds the cathedral wanted to increase the number of visitors beyond 100,000 a year “both for its sustainability and to benefit Ripon’s economy” but this could only be achieved if visitor facilities were improved, traffic in the precinct were reduced and the cathedral forecourt were integrated with Kirkgate and the Courthouse Gardens to improve connectivity.
The cathedral view from Kirkgate.
In alignment with this vision, Ripon Cathedral produced the Ripon Cathedral Renewed project, which outlined plans to create a cathedral quarter by constructing an annexe in Minster Gardens that included a song school, accessible facilities, and enhanced public spaces.
But the impact of these plans on the wildlife, especially trees, as well as on nearby businesses, proved contentious and that plan is now in tatters.
Dean John said the cathedral will now ask North Yorkshire Council and Ripon City Council “to share their vision for how the cathedral quarter will be developed” following the planning application withdrawal.
It seems this difficult chapter in Ripon Cathedral’s 1,350-year history may have some way to go yet.
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