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Feb

Last Updated: 26/02/2024

Ripon Cathedral invites civic society to discuss £8m annexe concerns

by John Plummer

| 27 Feb, 2024

Ripon Cathedral

Ripon Cathedral has said it will invite Ripon Civic Society to a meeting after the heritage organisation raised concerns about plans for a new development in Minster Gardens.

The cathedral has submitted a planning application for a new building, costing about £8 million, which would include an 80-seat refectory, gift shop, toilets and song school for choristers.

It has said the building would provide key facilities and attract more people to the city. But the cathedral has paused the application following opposition from residents concerned about the proposed location and loss of 11 trees.

David Winpenny, co-chair of the society, said in an open letter to the cathedral, which is holding a new round of consultation, that it appeared "there will be only minor adjustments, if any" to its original plans.

It added:

“We have been particularly concerned about the effect of a large new structure on the park, which would severely mar the open space and compromise the setting of the surrounding listed buildings – the Old Deanery, the Courthouse, the Old Courthouse and the cathedral itself.”

A cathedral spokesperson said it would be inviting all members of the civic society to a meeting. It added:

"The purpose of this consultation is to ensure that people have the correct information about the proposed plans and to enable the cathedral to gather informed responses and suggestions.

"The cathedral is itself a member of the civic society and like many other members does not approve of the line being taken by a small group of people, who make up the executive group, claiming to speak for the whole society."

The cathedral added Historic England, the regulatory body for England’s historic environment, had said the proposal "would make a positive contribution to the historic environment of Ripon" and that:

"We would suggest that the opportunity to place Ripon Cathedral on a sustainable financial footing is a significant public benefit which the council will need to take into account in its decision-making.

"This should be considered alongside other public benefits such as the sustaining of the Ripon choral tradition, the attraction of visitors to the cathedral and city, and the provision of community facilities."

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Ripon Cathedral invites civic society to discuss £8m annexe concerns

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