Delapré Abbey Preservation Trust is gearing up for a busy year ahead as it continues to welcome visitors to the 900-year-old abbey for its public events and popular eateries, The Orangery and Hibiscus.
The team is hoping to commence works on the 19th Century stables later this year. The restoration will see a mix of community, wellbeing, retail, and food and beverage units created out of the disused buildings that sit to the north of Delapré Abbey.
This will allow the Trust to expand its award-winning wellbeing programme and support the development of the existing popular visitor attraction.
At the centre of the development will be a new community space that will provide an opportunity to gather, learn and engage, ensuring that Delapré Abbey remains a vibrant hub for the public. New public facilities including a dog wash, increased cycle storage, toilets and a changing facility will enable more people to enjoy Delapré Abbey and its surroundings.
In addition to repurposing the stables, the project will also bolster the long-term sustainability of the charity with new income generation through rental incomes, retail and food and beverage sales. The development of the £5.5m scheme is currently supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Architectural Heritage Fund, SEMLEP, Historic England, Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, and an array of trusts and foundations, which have been generous in their support.
The Delapré Abbey Preservation Trust is expected to have raised all funds necessary by this summer.
The Trust has brought on board the AJ100 practice Buttress to lead the important and sympathetic design of this scheme. Buttress has a wealth of experience across the heritage sector and places significant importance on ensuring repurposed heritage celebrates the past but also embraces the future. The practice has, with Bob Costello Associates, designed a scheme benefiting from low-carbon measures such as ground-source heat pumps, photovoltaics and rainwater harvesting, supportingthe Trust’s aim to be carbon net zero by 2035 and ensuring it can invest more in its charitable activities than its building overheads.
Senior Architect Lucy Ashcroft said:
“This is an incredibly interesting project that allows us to work sensitively with the original 19th Century buildings to give this area of the abbey estate a distinct future. We can fully utilise our expertise to restore and redevelop the buildings currently at risk, whilst providing facilities that benefit the people of Northampton.”
The vision is to design a scheme that proactively and positively contributes to the wellbeing of people, avoids harm to the health of the planet, and contributes to the prosperity of Delapré Abbey and its community. The stable yard is surrounded by woodland and nature, lending itself naturally to the concept of biophilic design and using the built environment to improve health and wellbeing.
Currie & Brown, based in Milton Keynes, are providing the Project Management and Quantity Surveying. Having worked on a number of heritage projects, they have brought an understanding and rigorous control that is required to ensure the successful delivery of these often multifaceted and complex heritage schemes.
Andrew Faraday, Director of Currie & Brown, said:
“It was important to Currie & Brown’s Milton Keynes team to secure this project, as it’s not only something we have enjoyed as part of the community, but our heritage experience meant we could ensure the development of such a beautiful and historic asset was delivered on time and budget for many more people to enjoy in the coming years.”
The Trust is progressing conservations with the local planning authority and expects to be submitting a full planning application in spring 2024. If all the timelines are achieved, it is expected that the project will complete in autumn/winter 2025.
Richard Clinton, CEO of Delapré Abbey, added:
“This new public hub will be here for the community for generations to come. It will create jobs and opportunities whilst securing the long-term future for Delapré Abbey and help to deliver our 15-year masterplan.
“The transformation of these stables represents a significant step in our commitment to supporting community wellbeing through heritage. With the support of The National Lottery Heritage Fund and our dedicated partners, we are well on the way to creating a space that not only restores our heritage but also improves the mental and physical health of our communities.”
“The Trust would also like to express our heartfelt thank you to the funding partners who have shown their support for the scheme to date. Without their support, this would not be possible.”
Funding has been received from the following organisations: National Lottery Heritage Fund, Architectural Heritage Fund, Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, SEMLEP, Historic England, Constance Travis Charitable Trust, Eric Stanton Northampton Trust, Swire Charitable Trust and Finnis Scott Foundation. The Trust is continuing with its fundraising to secure the remaining elements of the funding package required to progress the project.
If you are interested in understanding more about the development, have an interest in being an occupier or user, or are interested in future procurement packages,
contact amanda.nicols-polinska@delapreabbey.org
To find out more about how the development will look visit delapreabbey.org
