Ripon Cathedral clergy to discuss £6m expansion plans tomorrow

People will get the chance to ask senior clergy at Ripon Cathedral about the proposed £6 million expansion tomorrow.

The cathedral applied in December to build a two-storey annex on nearby Minster Gardens. It would include toilets, a song school, shop and cafe.

The project. known as Ripon Cathedral Renewed would involve felling 11 trees, including a veteran beech tree.

How the scheme would look.

The planning application, which can be viewed here, contains 406 documents and has received 242 comments.

North Yorkshire Council has yet to decide whether to accept the scheme.

The cathedral is launching its annual review at 10am tomorrow. In a Facebook post, it said:

“Dean John and members of chapter will give a presentation on how the cathedral has been delivering its strategy of growing God’s kingdom and progress made on Ripon Cathedral Renewed, together with time for questions.”

The veteran beech tree is pictured in the foreground.

According to the cathedral’s website, the expansion would “provide key facilities” and “enable it to host more events, exhibitions, and concerts, which will attract increased numbers of people to the city, to the benefit of all”.

Pat Waterfall, who has campaigned against the loss of trees, said:

“I will be going and, if I get the chance, will ask for clarification on the proposed tree planting. Is it 300 or as more recently reported about 60?

“Much of the planting seems to be shrubs or short-lived small trees which will in no way compensate for the loss of the existing trees let alone mitigate the huge carbon footprint of the new building.”

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