Operation Regeneration is a project bringing people together to shape the future of The Old Grammar School (known also as Richmond Lower School), in Richmond North Yorkshire. The project aims to include everyone in the local community, turning the building and its grounds into an asset for Richmond and surrounding areas, to be enjoyed for generations to come.
Richmondshire Building Preservation Trust (RBPT) are working with the National Innovation Centre for Rural Enterprise (NICRE) at Newcastle University to carry out extensive consultation and community engagement between June and September 2024. You may have seen us at events in and around Richmond and Catterick, or shared your ideas through our online survey during August.
Find out more here: www.nicre.co.uk/TOGSrichmond
The public phase of consultation culminated in an Open Day in the grounds of The Old Grammar School on 1st September, where visitors could chat with representatives of NICRE and RBPT, and have an interactive tour around the outside of the building. The event was well attended, with visitors giving their views on future uses for each of the key spaces.
So, what happens next?
Feedback during our public consultation has been fantastic – we have received views from hundreds of local residents, and visitors to the area. The project team will now analyse all the data and explore the feasibility of each proposed use, a process which will take some time. While this work is underway, our engagement with the local community will continue.
Throughout September we are running a number stakeholder engagement events, interviews, and will be visiting schools and youth settings to engage directly with young people in the area. We want to preserve the site for current and future generations, and so it is important that young people in our community have their say, as well as local organisations and businesses.
With support from professional partners, we will then complete our feasibility work and tailor a funded project plan for presentation in early 2025 to North Yorkshire Council – the owners of the site.
To keep up to date with our progress, please follow the Operation Regeneration Facebook page here: www.facebook.com/TOGSrichmond
To view previous project updates, visit our News page.