The ancient cathedral and veteran beech tree: a row that has brought Ripon national attention

Last updated Dec 10, 2023

The veteran beech at the centre of Ripon Cathedral's development debate

Will a single beech tree topple a £6 million development for Ripon Cathedral?

The cathedral argues a new annex is urgently needed to provide 21st century facilities for churchgoers, visitors and choristers.

The Ripon Cathedral Renewed project, involves creating a 1,000 square metre, two storey, standalone building on Minster Gardens, which would provide an 80-seat refectory, a song school, gift shop, toilets and additional storage space.

But there is a major potential stumbling block. To build the new annex a veteran tree will have to be felled.

The mature beech tree is on the ancient tree inventory of The Woodland Trust, the UK’s largest woodland conservation charity. It is thought to be between 150 and 200 years old.

It has become emblematic, providing a rallying point for campaigners opposed to construction of the building on public open space.

The Dean of Ripon Cathedral, the Very Revd John Dobson, has tried for years to improve facilities at the cathedral and has described the loss of the beech and ten other trees as a ‘moral dilemma’ which requires balancing ‘with urgent needs and undeniable benefits’.

It’s also a dilemma that puts the councillors who will ultimately decide whether or not the development goes ahead, in an unenviable position.

An aerial cgi featuring the proposed annex on Minster Gardens to the north of the cathedral. Picture Ripon Cathedral Renewed

The common beech, whose scientific name is Fagus Sylvatica, is regularly described as the ‘Queen of British trees’.

With unintended irony, the Woodland Trust, which has formally objected to the loss of the Ripon veteran and ten other mature trees on Minster Gardens, describes common beech trees as having ‘cathedral-like branches.’

But does saving an ancient tree, which in UK planning law is considered ‘irreplaceable’, trump the stated needs of the people involved in the day to day running of an ancient building, which has been central to the history and heritage of Ripon since St Wilfrid laid its foundation stone 1,351 years ago?

The Rules

The government’s National Planning Policy Framework says that planning authorities:

Should refuse planning permission if development will result in the loss or deterioration of ancient woodland, ancient trees and veteran trees unless both of the following applies:

there are wholly exceptional reasons
there’s a suitable compensation strategy in place

The Very Revd John Dobson said that the loss of trees presents a ‘moral dilemma’

The cathedral’s case

With 100,000 visitors through its doors during 2022, the cathedral lacks both an ability to offer its own hospitality facilities and provide accessible toilets for people with limited mobility.

The Dean and cathedral chapter have emphasised an urgent need for action.

The cathedral has stated that there are exceptional reasons for felling the trees and in the Ripon Cathedral Renewed leaflet, produced in support of its planning application, said:

“All other potential locations and solutions have been considered over many years and have proven to be undeliverable.”

In compensation for the loss of the 11 trees, a new woodland area with 21 trees will be created within the vicinity of the cathedral and the annex. Dean John has also stated that 300 native trees will be planted on land near Studley.

Last December the planning application was submitted to Harrogate Borough Council, three months before the district authority was abolished and subsumed into the new unitary North Yorkshire Council.

Those in favour and those against

Among its early supporters was Historic England, the government’s expert advisor on England’s heritage.

The watchdog, which had scuppered a previous proposal for an extension physically attached to the south side of the cathedral’s west frontage, said:

“This application is highly sensitive due to the wonderful historic townscape of Ripon, its proximity and relationship to Ripon Cathedral, and from the heritage value of the site itself.

“The proposal would make a positive contribution to the historic environment of Ripon, sitting appropriately in location and design terms with the townscape and cathedral, and beginning to rearticulate the original cathedral precinct. However, the loss of open space and trees would have a minor impact on heritage significance.

“We consider that many elements of the proposal are in line with those parts of the NPPF (National Planning Policy Framework) within our statutory remit.”

The local heritage watchdog Ripon Civic Society took a very different view. It said:

“While we do not disagree with the cathedral’s view that a new annex on the north side of the cathedral will contribute to the sustainable future of the cathedral and enhance the city of Ripon, we consider that siting an annex on Minster Gardens is unacceptable.”

At its full meeting last December, where a pre-application presentation of the proposed scheme was made, Ripon City Council supported ‘the general principle’ of the development.

The council said:

“We will be looking at the finer detail when the planning application is submitted, but the city council supports the general principle of this development, with the exception of the proposed closure of Minster Road, which we cannot agree with because diverting traffic elsewhere would cause many problems.”

Impact on city business

At the February 2023 council meeting, business owners expressed concerns that the proposed development would ‘funnel’ visitors away from Kirkgate where a number of cafes and restaurants are located.

The city council called for a retail impact assessment to be carried out to see if the refectory would result in a reduction in business for local traders.

North Yorkshire planners thought this was unnecessary, even though the design and access document prepared in support of the annex application, said:

“Cathedral Refectory: for this to be a financially viable part of the cathedral business plan it needs to be a certain size, to accommodate a coach party, and be very close to the cathedral.

“This is required to prevent visitors from drifting away from the cathedral and using the various cafés in the city.”

This opened up a new wave of posts on social media focusing on the perceived contradiction between the planning document and the cathedral’s claim that the development would bring an increase in footfall of up to 50% that would be ‘good news for the local economy and local businesses’.

The tree campaigners

While the city debated the impact on businesses, the fight to save the veteran beech gathered momentum.

The tree has been the focus of a ‘save our trees’ petition launched in April by Ripon resident Jenni Holman.

The petition has gathered more than 2,000 signatures and has been provided in 19 tranches for inclusion on the North Yorkshire Council planning portal.

In addition, at the time of publication, planners have received comments from 169 supporters of the annex application, and 79 from objectors.

The tree campaigners pictured at their peaceful protest on November 25

The campaigners, whose protest generated TV, Radio, online and printed media coverage across Yorkshire and Tyneside, was given added impetus in September, when the world-famous sycamore gap tree on Hadrian’s Wall, was cut down in an act of vandalism that brought national and international outrage and media coverage.

Ms Holman, said:

“Over the past eight months we have been raising awareness of the cathedral’s plans. We do not object to the cathedral having the additional facilities that it needs to prosper, but there are more suitable and less sensitive locations, including land and buildings owned by the church which could be developed to meet its needs.”

The annex planning application will be considered by the Skipton and Ripon Constituency Planning Committee of North Yorkshire Council in the New Year, at a meeting due to be held in Ripon.

The Stray Ferret will cover the crucial meeting and any significant developments that take place beforehand.