Consent recommended to turn derelict historic coach house into homes

The future of Dawnay Coach House, historically linked to Beningbrough Hall and the Dawnay family, is set to be secured this week with full planning approval for this North Yorkshire heritage conservation project.

GEM Construction’s development plans for the dilapidated Victorian brick and slate coach house buildings off Chapmans Lane, Shipton-by-Beningbrough, have been recommended for approval by the planning officer at Hambleton District Council, which meets on Thursday.

Conversion and reconfiguration of the existing coach house will create three homes, with the addition of two, separate new homes.

The new homes will come with either gardens or courtyards, car parking, electric vehicle charging, heat recovery and renewable energy systems.

GEM Construction will receive an element of affordable homes support from the council as part of the project.

Mike Green, director of GEM Construction, said: “Dawnay Coach House is in a derelict state, but remains an outstanding and beautiful building, a rural jewel with real presence and stature.

“There are significant challenges ahead involved in bringing the buildings back to life. But we have vast experience of this kind of skilled work and once we are completed, these historically important buildings will make wonderful family homes and further strengthen the fabric of the local community.”

Originally constructed at the end of the 19th or start of the 20th century, the buildings are built with local brick and would have housed the horse-drawn coaches of Beningbrough Hall, two miles away.

With eight buildings in all on the site, the coach house fell into disrepair with the rise of the motor car in the 1930s. Most recently it was used for livestock, hay and storage.

Founded in 1997 GEM Construction employs 35 full-time staff including project and professional staff, alongside its sister company, Lanstone Conservation, which specialises in the maintenance, restoration and conservation of ecclesiastical, historic and ancient buildings and monuments.

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