Plans to breathe new life into an historic building in Lancaster have taken a significant step forward following confirmation of a decision to lease out an historic building.
Subject to planning approval and the finalisation of Heads of Terms, Ryelands House, a Grade II listed building in Ryelands Park, will be leased to the North Lancashire Community Land Trust, a not-for-profit, community-based organisation, for an initial period of four years.
By partnering with NLCLT, Lancaster City Council say they aim to secure a sustainable future for the building, working alongside individuals in the Trust who have considerable experience of restoring and repurposing heritage assets.
And as Beyond Radio revealed last month, a new multi-sensory centre for children and adults with disabilities is set to become the first new occupant of the building once renovation works are completed.
The SEND Den will be based on the ground floor, including various spaces including a sensory suite, movement room, music room, therapy space and refreshments area.
The SEND Den team are now looking to raise £60,000 to help get the centre open.
Their fundraising page can be found HERE.
Read more: LISTEN: New centre for people with disabilities to open in historic Lancaster location
Councillor Tim Hamilton-Cox, cabinet member for finance and property, said: "The council’s resources for repairs and maintenance are stretched over a wide portfolio of listed building assets and there has been no commercial interest in taking on Ryelands House.
“Without intervention the property will deteriorate and remain vulnerable to anti-social behaviour. By working with the North Lancashire Community Land Trust we’re taking a proactive approach to preserving the building as a heritage asset, as a beloved feature of the park and as a location for community activities.
“NLCT has produced both an impressively thought-through long-term business plan and an initial, finely detailed two-year budget. They are a credit to the team behind the work.”
The terms of the initial four-year lease enable NLCT to bring Ryelands House into a tenantable condition and will provide time for them to raise the funding necessary to secure the building’s future, with a long-term lease to follow when that has been achieved.
A programme of community consultation will be launched to ensure local people help shape the future of the house.
Residents will be invited to share their views through surveys, drop-in sessions, and events at the house itself. The group is also looking for local residents who may want to get involved as volunteers.
Simon Gershon, Director of the North Lancashire Community Land Trust, said: “We’re excited to begin this journey and want Ryelands House to become a real asset for local people. This is about bringing the building back to life, but also about creating something together with everyone in the community.”
Peter Wiltshire, Chair of Lancaster Civic Vision, said: “I am very pleased to hear that the city council has developed a partnership with the North Lancashire Community Land Trust so that Ryelands House will have a positive future.”
The group will provide regular updates and opportunities for residents to get involved soon. For more information please visit www.ryelandshouse.org.uk.
A community consultation survey has been released and can be found at https://loom.ly/XZ7xb-o.
Ryelands House at Ryelands Park was the home of James Williamson, Lord Ashton, businessman, philanthropist and politician, known for his lino-making empire of factories on St George's Quay.
James Williamson is a former MP for Lancaster and High Sheriff of Lancashire, who gave his name to Williamson Park, the Ashton Memorial and the Ashton Hall in the city.
He donated the town hall to Lancaster, as well as the Queen Victoria monument in Dalton Square, and was known for his philanthropic donations of money to good causes. He died at Ryelands House in 1930.
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