SYMPATHETIC REFURBISHMENT OF HISTORIC BUILDINGS

An affordable housing scheme in a North Yorkshire village, has been officially opened. The scheme is the result of a sympathetic refurbishment of the unoccupied almshouses in Burneston.

In partnership with local charity The Matthew Robinson Trust, Broadacres Housing Association has created four new homes in the village of Burneston.

This has involved the refurbishment of two Almshouses built in 1680, along with the former schoolmasters’ house and school room.

The scheme was officially opened, via the unveiling of a plaque, on 29^th March by Her Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant for North Yorkshire, Mrs Johanna Ropner.

Broadacres provided its professional services to support The Matthew Robinson Trust in realising its vision of restoring the buildings which are situated in the heart of the village. This has included local consultation, submitting the necessary planning applications, making applications for funding, and choosing the contractor for the refurbishment.

The two existing Almshouses and old school room, which are Grade 2* listed and were vacant for a while, have undergone an extensive external and internal refurbishment, with a ‘light touch’ approach being taken to sympathetically repair the fabric of the building.

This has created a ‘new’ one-bedroom home alongside the existing one and two-bedroom Almshouse homes within the Grade 2* listed buildings.

In addition, the former schoolmasters’ house has been extended from an existing two-bedroom home into a four-bedroom family home.

The homes are all in the process of being let to people with a connection to Burneston, or the surrounding area.

Broadacres’ Chief Executive Gail Teasdale said: “Working in partnership, we’re delighted to have been able to help The Matthew Robinson Trust realise its vision of restoring these amazing buildings to create homes for local people.

“Using our professional expertise to support local organisations and charities in delivering affordable housing in rural areas of North Yorkshire plays an important part of our vision of being the best rural housing provider in the UK.”

Elizabeth McIntyre, Chairman of The Matthew Robinson Trust, says “XXXX”

Hambleton Rural Housing Enabler Amanda Madden, who made the initial approach about restoring the buildings, said: “XXX”

The contractor on the scheme was Moody Construction and the architect was P+HS Architects. Identity Consult (employers’ agents) and Fairhurst (consulting and structural engineers) also provided support.

The scheme received significant financial backing, with Homes England providing a grant of £200,000, The Matthew Robinson Trust donating £50,000, Hambleton District Council pledging £75,000 and The Almshouse Association donating £20,000. The rest of the funding came via the Charity Bank.