Office suites conversion at listed building runs into controversy

CONSERVATIONISTS are objecting to plans to "carve up" the garden at the rear of one of Beverley's most important listed buildings for car parking.

Norwood House, a formerly council-owned Grade 1 listed building, which has been described as one of the best Georgian buildings in the country, has stood empty for years.

Last year, amid controversy, East Riding Council sold it to developers to convert into offices, despite pleas from campaigners who wanted to turn it into a museum and community venue.

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Now councillors on the eastern area planning sub committee are being asked to approve plans to turn the building, which was latterly part of Beverley High School for Girls, into seven self-contained office suites.

The application by Brantingham Group, being heard next Monday, proposes remodelling the area behind Norwood House, once a formal garden, but now rough ground, into a landscaped garden and parking area with 26 spaces and an access for cars.

The plans were revised following discussions and English Heritage says it is now "on balance content".

However the Ancient Monuments Society say there is insufficient information in the application and is calling for a decision to be postponed, while The Georgian Group, which is dedicated to preserving Georgian buildings across the UK, continues to object.

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Secretary Robert Bargery said: "If you need that intensive car parking is that the right use for the building?"

Their objection means that even if it is approved next week the decision will be sent to the Secretary of State to be determined.

The Georgian Society for East Yorkshire also objects to the garden "being carved up", saying it "would completely destroy one of the most significant aspects of Norwood House, that is a town house with a rural aspect.

"This aspect has been impinged upon by the school and particularly with the newest school buildings but an open aspect does nevertheless survive."

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Other individuals have written bemoaning the loss of a public building.

However the developers say the change of use would bring a neglected building back into use and secure its long term survival and offices could be created with minimal alterations to the current layout.

Planners say a significant amount of money is needed to being the building back to a decent standard and claim the majority of consultees' concern over the car parking "has been resolved."

They conclude: "Officers now consider that the scheme is acceptable in line with the amended plans and recommend that the application be approved."

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Last March the council announced it had sold the freehold to the Brantingham Group out of a field of six bidders. That was said to be the highest offer at just over 300,000, with most of the rest only offering peppercorn rents.

The building, built in 1760 for lawyer and three times Mayor of Beverley Jonathan Midgley, is said to need millions of pounds' worth of restoration work.

The firm currently rents out offices in 18th century Lairgate Hall, in Beverley, former home of Beverley Borough Council.

The council said at the time it had held back for several years to allow the charitable company Norwood House Beverley Limited, time to try to secure funding to bring it back into use primarily as a community facility and museum.

But after seven years there had only been limited progress and there had been a fire and an outbreak of dry and wet rot and Norwood House had been put on English Heritage's At Risk register.