Bainbridge Chapel - Our first successfully completed projectSeptember 2024 We are absolutely delighted that our first project, the conversion of the old Methodist Chapel in Bainbridge into two affordable homes, is now completed. The building work was carried out from January 2024 to September 2024, transforming the former chapel into two beautiful, spacious, characterful AND AFFORDABLE two-bedroom flats. As of 16th September, 2024 these two homes are now let to people from the small local community who applied and qualified for our affordable housing via North Yorkshire Home Choice.
This is a huge achievement by the UDCLT, and they could not have got past the finish line without securing the partnership support of North Star Housing Group, a NE-based housing association, who have overseen the complex building works. North Star will also handle the ongoing management of the properties and their tenants. VIEW OUR GALLERY OF IMAGES - BEFORE WORKS BEGAN AND MONTH BY MONTH AS THE CHAPEL TRANSFORMS INTO TWO FINISHED AFFORDABLE 2-BEDROOM FLATS Since our inception in 2017 it has been a steep learning curve for the Trust. We'd succeeded in getting funding in place - from the (then) Richmondshire Council and Homes England - which allowed us to purchase the former Methodist Chapel in Bainbridge back in 2022 but the actual building work didn’t commence until January 2024. There were some bumps on the road but critical to our ultimate success was our alliance with North Star, whose support and partnership allowed the Trust to move forwards with our vision for Bainbridge Chapel. Both ground floor and first floor homes have two bedrooms, and a large open plan living room/kitchen/dining area. The top flat has a bathroom and the ground floor has both a bathroom and a shower room. In addition, the ground floor flat is fully accessible. Externally there are outhouses for storage and a small garden area. As well as providing affordable and sustainable housing to local people who will really benefit from this new development, we are delighted that the chapel’s character and historic significance for the tight-knit community has been retained. Now that we have proved that a small band of enthusiastic volunteers with a vision can make a difference to the affordable housing picture in a remote Upper Dales community there's no stopping us! We will continue in our quest, and are already very busy progressing a number of future projects. Watch this space. FOLLOW THIS LINK IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN APPLYING FOR UDCLT AFFORDABLE HOUSING VISIT OUR NEWS AND EVENTS PAGE for previous news updates covering the Bainbridge Chapel conversion journey here. READ AND WATCH Yvonne Peacock, Trustee UDCLT and local Bainbridge resident, sharing her memories of the former Chapel below. “My connection with this chapel has been for the whole of my life – we have such wonderful memories of it. Now we have something we can celebrate! How marvellous that we can actually do something for the community and bring back the chapel by turning it into affordable homes for two families. It isn’t just a building, it was part of the community and now it is still going to be part of the community.” Councillor Yvonne Peacock, a local County Councillor and member of the Trust |
Chapel Garth - our vision for affordable homes in Arkengarthdale now has planning permission
July 2026 EXCITING NEWS: Planning permission for us to build four affordable homes for rent in the heart of Arkengarthdale has now been full approved by the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority's planning committee. Committee member Lizzie Bushby said of the planning outcome: "Ever since I've been involved in the authority, delivering affordable housing, particularly in the north the Park, has been one of the biggest issues that we've got. I think it's absolutely brilliant that there will be four new affordable homes in Arkengarthdale."
The Scheme, which also includes a community garden, will provide two two-bedroom and two three-bedroom properties, all to be managed by North Star Housing Group as affordable homes for social rent. The homes will be let through North Yorkshire Home Choice, and anyone applying for a tenancy must have a connection to the local area and fulfil specific eligibility criteria. These are laid down as part of something called a Section 106 agreement with the planning authority - in this case the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority. Our Chair Stephen Stubbs says: “We are absolutely delighted that planning permission has now been granted by the Yorkshire Dales National Park, allowing this much-needed affordable housing project to move forward. This has been a long journey involving many people, and I would like to thank everyone who has supported the project along the way, particularly North Star Housing Group, North Yorkshire Council and the local community. "Our partnership with North Star has been excellent throughout and we look forward to working together to deliver four high-quality, energy-efficient homes for local people. The development will provide two two-bedroom and two three-bedroom affordable homes, incorporating air source heat pumps and solar panels to help reduce energy costs for future tenants. "We hope to begin construction later this year and are excited to see these much-needed homes become a reality for Arkengarthdale.” September 2025 Our next ambitious and exciting project is to build two three-bedroom and two two-bedroom homes in Arkengarthdale, one of the remotest Dales in the National Park. UDCLT Chair Stephen Stubbs, who lives in the Dale, comments: “We’ve been incredibly successful, against all odds, to get planning permission to build four affordable and sustainable homes in Arkengarthdale which local people have supported and the plans passed by the Yorkshire Dales National Park (subject to a S.106 agreement)." The S.106 ensures that only people with a strong local connection to the area could apply for an affordable home. This is a very challenging and complex project and involves much higher costs because of its location in the Yorkshire Dales National Park and the building stipulations of chimneys, stone, roof slates, windows etc etc. But our Trust have forged some invaluable partnerships through our Bainbridge project - most importantly North Star Housing Group - and we will continue to collaborate closely with all the parties integral to the process to give us the best chance of success. As Stephen says, “We want young families to want to live in these places, for the houses to have a decent amount of light in them, make them very well insulated so the heating bills are affordable, and be as sustainable and green as they can be.“ Over the coming months we will be finalising the plans and exploring our funding options. Interested in how we are progressing? Join our mailing list for updates and news. |
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