Latest news with #RichmondshireBuildingPreservationTrust
BBC News
07-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Trust needs to find £10m to transform historic Richmond school
Trust needs to find £10m for historic school plan 9 minutes ago Share Save Joe Willis Local Democracy Reporting Service Share Save Joe Willis/LDR North Yorkshire Council has agreed to transfer the building to the Richmondshire Building Preservation Trust A charitable trust needs to find £10m in funding to transform a former grammar school or the council will sell it on. Earlier this week, North Yorkshire Council gave the go-ahead for the Richmond Grammar School building to be transferred to Richmondshire Building Preservation Trust. In order to redevelop the site into a community facility, the trust needs to secure funding. Deputy council leader Gareth Dadd said the council was committed to working with the trust but it was "the last option for the site" and would be sold on if the project "did not progress". At a meeting of the council's executive on Tuesday, leaders were told the full redevelopment would cost almost £10m, although the building could be partly reopened with less money while the remainder of funds were sought. Approving the transfer of the building, Dadd said the decision was a "major milestone for Richmond and the surrounding area". He added: "The go-ahead to transfer the building to the trust fits into our vision for the whole county to bring opportunities and boost the local economy for our communities." However, councillors agreed that if sufficient funding was not found, the property - valued at £370,000 - would be sold off, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service. North Yorkshire Council The former grammar school had pupils including the world-famous author Lewis Carroll The Grade II listed building was founded as a school in the 14th century with former pupils including Alice in Wonderland author Lewis Carroll. A previous attempt to redevelop the site, which closed in 2011, failed after a rejected lottery funding bid. The trust's chief executive officer, Chris Brown, said the development would offer "exciting new experiences" for the area and pledged to explore "all avenues available" to raise the money. "We will now work tirelessly to bring to life the site for the benefit of Richmond and the wider region," he said. "We know people are eager to see the building restored to its former glory as it holds fond memories for many people in our community and is a famous site in Richmond." Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North. Related Internet Links Local Democracy Reporting Service
Yahoo
27-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Conversion plans for former grammar school
A former grammar school in the Yorkshire Dales could become a community centre, under plans due to be considered by councillors. Richmond Grammar School, which was founded in the 14th Century, taught pupils including the author Lewis Carroll but closed in 2011. The Grade II listed building has been vacant since then, despite previous efforts to bring it back into community use. A proposal, drawn up by the Richmondshire Building Preservation Trust, would see it become a centre for "cultural activities and digital enterprise". It would also focus on providing opportunities for young people, allowing them to access activities in their local area. North Yorkshire Council's executive will discuss a report on 6 May, which sets out plans to transfer the council-owned site to the preservation trust. Deputy council leader Gareth Dadd said: "This is an exciting opportunity to bring opportunities and experiences for local communities and visitors to Richmond that would normally only be seen in large towns and cities. "The proposals do have a strong focus on young people which would allow them to take up a host of new opportunities, bringing digital to the Dales. "It is a major ambition for us as a council to ensure that we can bring vitality and enterprise to our market towns." If approved, the preservation trust would launch a fundraising campaign to finance the development. However, Dadd added they were in the "last chance saloon" because the building would have to be sold if this project did not progress. The former grammar school site has a current market value of about £370,000. Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North. North Yorkshire Council
BBC News
27-04-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Conversion plans for former Richmond Grammar School
A former grammar school in the Yorkshire Dales could become a community centre, under plans due to be considered by Grammar School, which was founded in the 14th Century, taught pupils including the author Lewis Carroll but closed in Grade II listed building has been vacant since then, despite previous efforts to bring it back into community use.A proposal, drawn up by the Richmondshire Building Preservation Trust, would see it become a centre for "cultural activities and digital enterprise". It would also focus on providing opportunities for young people, allowing them to access activities in their local Yorkshire Council's executive will discuss a report on 6 May, which sets out plans to transfer the council-owned site to the preservation trust. 'Last chance saloon' Deputy council leader Gareth Dadd said: "This is an exciting opportunity to bring opportunities and experiences for local communities and visitors to Richmond that would normally only be seen in large towns and cities."The proposals do have a strong focus on young people which would allow them to take up a host of new opportunities, bringing digital to the Dales. "It is a major ambition for us as a council to ensure that we can bring vitality and enterprise to our market towns."If approved, the preservation trust would launch a fundraising campaign to finance the Dadd added they were in the "last chance saloon" because the building would have to be sold if this project did not former grammar school site has a current market value of about £370,000. Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
