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18
Feb
Where next for Ripon Cathedral's future plans?
Following Friday’s withdrawal of the £8 million annexe planning application for Minster Gardens, two key statutory consultees who objected to the scheme remain hopeful that a solution can be found to meet Ripon Cathedral’s long-term needs.
Both Ripon City Council and heritage watchdog Ripon Civic Society have spoken of the need to find a way forward through wider engagement with the local community and groups, including the Save the Trees campaigners, who raised a 3,000-signature petition in opposition to the removal of mature trees on the development site – a green open space currently owned by North Yorkshire Council.
At a packed meeting held in Holy Trinity Church on December 9, Ripon City Council (RCC) voted 7-1 in favour of a proposal from Councillor Peter Horton, which stated:
RCC supports Ripon Cathedral’s ambitions to provide essential improvements to achieve the facilities that are desirable in the 21st century, however, whilst the proposed buildings would satisfy those aims, the proposal does not fully meet the objections that have been voiced within the community, especially in respect of Minster Gardens.
RCC believes that it is possible for a further redesign to be achieved, perhaps utilising further space available in the Stonemason’s yard to reduce the impact on Minster Gardens. If Ripon Cathedral were to come forward with a more satisfactory design, RCC would potentially be happy to support proposals.
An architect's perspective of the proposed development
This call for the cathedral to return to the drawing board came as a crushing blow to its ambition to construct a two-storey stand-alone building on Minster Gardens, including a song school, refectory, gift shop and accessible Changing Places toilet.
In a statement issued on Friday, the Dean of Ripon, the Very Revd John Dobson, said:
We were saddened that Ripon City Council did not support the proposed annexe in its December meeting, despite the many eloquent arguments placed before them and the amendments that had been made to retain the beech tree. In addition, we continue to be asked for ever more proof of viability and justification within the planning system.
The debate within the city has been challenging and difficult for everyone, but especially for cathedral staff and supporters. The intention in withdrawing the current application is to allow the further development and amendment of our plans to be discussed constructively and positively – balancing the many complex constraints and opportunities.
The Dean added that the cathedral will “work constructively with North Yorkshire Council and Ripon City Council” on new plans – a move that is welcomed by city council leader Andrew Williams, who told the Stray Ferret:
We all need to come together and look for a solution that meets the cathdral's urgent needs to have the modern facilities it requires to ensure a sustainable future,
At the same time, any new proposal must address the environmental and other concerns raised by members of the public, the civic society and other organisations during the previous planning process.
Through further consultation with the wider community, I am hopeful that the Dean and Chapter can find a mutually acceptable way forward that benefits the city and the cathedral.
David Winpenny, co-chair of Ripon Civic Society, which objected to both the initial and revised plans for the annexe building, said:
We welcome the decision of Ripon Cathedral to withdraw its application for an annexe to be built on the publicly-owned Kirkgate Park (Minster Gardens).
This should offer the opportunity for the cathedral authorities to have meaningful discussions not just with the planning authority and the city council, but also with Historic England and with local people, who have unfortunately been so divided over the plans.
The Society has never denied the cathedral’s needs, and looks forward to finding a way of meeting them that heals the present divide.
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