16th January 2008
Charity Welcomes Richmond Council's Planning Brief
The Royal Star & Garter Charity, Richmond, has welcomed a draft planning brief prepared by Richmond Council, for the future use of its main building on Richmond Hill, along with its ancillary buildings on the Hill, Ancaster House and Wick House. All three are listed buildings. The Charity is hoping that, following the consultation period which begins on 18th January, the Council will adopt a flexible approach which will secure a viable long term future for the main building and ensure its rich history is respected and its fine fabric maintained.
In the next few years The Royal Star & Garter Charity will be moving from its historic building on Richmond Hill into a new, modern home with state-of-the-art facilities for the disabled ex-Service men and women residents. It is anticipated that the move will take place in late 2010 after which the Richmond Hill building will be sold. The proceeds from the sales will be used to fund the Charity's development programme to build new care homes for disabled ex-Service people.
Chief Executive of the Charity Lynn McDougall, said, "We have enjoyed a long relationship with the local community since the Charity was established in 1916 and we are very conscious of the warm regard with which the Home and its history are held. We hope that any new use will sit well within the environs. Any future use of course needs to be economic for the Charity as well as any future user or we are likely to be faced with a prolonged and expensive planning process which can serve neither party well."
Neither would the Charity wish to see its building left empty if the brief is too restrictive.
Vice Admiral Sir John Dunt, Chairman of the Board of Governors at The Royal Star & Garter commented ‘We are very mindful of the situation with Normansfield Hospital where a restrictive planning brief has resulted in a splendid building with a proud history being left to rot and decay because economic uses are not deemed appropriate. It is critical for the Charity and for the local community that that is not allowed to happen to our Home on the top of Richmond Hill'.
Ms McDougall added that the Charity would like to see Wick House, originally built for Sir Joshua Reynolds by Sir William Chambers in 1772, returned to its original status as a single residence. "In our view, the return of Wick House to residential use would be entirely in keeping with its history and standing as a listed building and would enhance the already unique historic nature of the Richmond Hill area. The upkeep of such an important house for the future is unlikely to be viable if it were retained as a hostel."
The Royal Star & Garter Homes Charity is very much about the enduring care of ex-Service men and women. The Charity believes that everyone will want to see the very best for the buildings into the future and believes that desire is entirely consistent with a flexible planning brief that will help the Charity secure its future for the next chapter of its proud history.