THE trustees of the charity which runs Kiplin Hall have applied for planning permission to Richmondshire District Council to change the use of land at its former quarry site to store materials and aggregates.

The application site is located to the west of Kiplin Hall, between Scorton and Northallerton, a Grade I listed hall with associated gardens.

The land is owned by Kiplin Hall Charitable Incorporated Organisation, open to visitors six days a week, 10 months a year and attracts over 30,000 visitors per annum.

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Kiplin receives no government grants or regular backing and generates its own income. Currently 59 per cent of its income comes from visitors, either through them purchasing admissions or secondary spend in the shop, tearoom and at events. The wider estate generates 26 per cent of its income through rental.

The charity states that costs of running a historic house and garden are high and largely unchangeable, and that having diverse income streams is vital to protecting the history of the grade 1 listed building and the site itself.

Planning permission is sought for the change of use of land to enable the storage of materials and aggregates on the application site. There are currently aggregates stored on the site which has not caused any issues, and the applicant would like to regularise the position.

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The proposed use requires no physical changes to the site as there is already an existing access and hardstanding across the site.

The development proposals essentially involve the stockpiling of materials and aggregates in large piles around the site. It is envisaged that the site will be utilised by an aggregate supplier who needs additional storage in the area for their distribution. This is very similar to the historic quarrying use which would have also involved the stockpiling of aggregates and materials.

Following the completion of the quarrying use, planning permission was granted to Yorwaste for a waste recycling facility for the treatment of waste wood in 2018, however it was not fully used.

Yorwaste’s lease on the site is coming to an end next year and is not looking to renew, leaving the trustees of Kiplin Hall with a funding gap resulting from the loss of rent. The trustees are seeking planning permission for an alternative and appropriate use to ensure that the anticipated revenue can go back towards the upkeep of the hall.

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