Funds sought to restore Grade II listed town hall

Funding will be sought to restore Ripon's town hall, after ownership of the Grade II listed building was transferred to the city council.

North Yorkshire Council approved a 99‑year lease of the building to Ripon City Council for a peppercorn rent of £1 per year.

The venue, originally private assembly rooms, was gifted to the city by the Marquess of Granby in the 1890s.

North Yorkshire councillor Heather Phillips said the move would help safeguard the town hall, despite the authority taking "a slight financial hit".

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, the transfer is seen as the first major double devolution deal following the formation of the unitary council in 2023.

Councillor Andrew Williams, who is a member of Ripon City Council, thanked the unitary authority for making the transfer happen.

He said: "It's a building which sadly has lacked investment for decades and whilst (the council chamber) is still in a reasonable condition, you don't have to venture far behind the wall behind you to see the neglect which sadly occurred under the previous management of Harrogate Council.

"Our ambitions here are to try and bring this building back into proper and constructive use in much the same way as being the case in Skipton."

Williams hoped to put forward a "strong business case" to funding partners to bring a new lease of life to the building.

The transfer could allow the council to use the chamber as a venue for weddings and events, market unused spaces for community use, and improve accessibility throughout the building.

North Yorkshire Council will provide £55,000 in initial support, continue to cover business rates for 2026/27 and help secure further external funding.

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