Future use of Star and Garter home under the spotlight

7.34.27pm GMT Fri 28th Dec 2007

The Royal Star and Garter home on Richmond Hill will be the focus of a public consultation which could shape the future use of the building.

The New Year will see the launch of a consultation on a draft planning brief drawn up by Richmond Council dealing with the home and Wick and Ancaster Houses, all in the ownership or control of the Royal Star and Garter Charity. The public's views on the plans will be sought during a six-week period, set to start on January 18. The home will become surplus to requirements when new, upgraded accommodation becomes available outside the borough. All three buildings are Grade 2 listed.

The planning brief will give guidance to prospective owners on the kind of uses the Council considers acceptable. It proposes a mixed use scheme for the Star and Garter main building. It recognises the building could lend itself well to conversion to hotel or other institutional use or residential, including affordable housing. It also recognises that the decorative features of a number of important rooms within the building will need to be safeguarded and conversion of these areas to residential use would not be appropriate.

There is the opportunity to provide public access to the home's historic chapel and provide a memorial for ex-servicemen and women. The Council is seeking the retention of Wick House for hostel use or accommodation for students or employees in the local area, and that Ancaster House continues in residential use, with opportunities to replace car parking with green space.

Cabinet Member for Environment, Cllr Martin Elengorn, said: "It is vital that the kind of development allowed is entirely suitable for each of the listed buildings and is in keeping with its surroundings, so that the buildings are maintained and refurbished. Therefore, changes to external appearance will be very limited and new uses will need to be compatible with the historic rooms. That is why the consultation is so important. We want to hear the views of as many people as possible to help us determine the future of this important site."

Copies of the draft planning brief will be available on the Council website from January 18, and hard copies can be inspected at the planning desk at the Civic Centre.