BELL SNOXELL ASSOCIATES LTD
Chartered Surveyor, Architectural & Planning Consultants
Barclays Bank House, Baxtergate, Whitby, North Yorkshire YO21 1BW
( 01947 820262 Fax 01947 820644
FOR SALE
Grosmont Methodist Church, Ings Terrace, Grosmont, Whitby
SALE OF METHODIST TRUST PROPERTY ON BEHALF OF GROSMONT METHODIST CHURCH COUNCIL
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
The premises comprise a detached structure built as the Grosmont Methodist Church in 1867.
The accommodation is at ground floor level only with no changes of level throughout the building.
There are effectively two areas these being the main Chapel and the vestry. The vestry has a separate external access.
The premises are not Listed and they contain little of any major architectural or historic interest. The Chapel is unused and all services and other meetings are held in the adjacent wholly separate School Room building which lies to the north.
The subject building is shown on the attached plan with its proposed curtilage edged red. The associated hall and its curtilage is shown edged blue. The plan is provided for identification purposes only.
The premises are located on an elevated site above the village of Grosmont with the principal front elevation facing due west. The attached plan shows the existing Chapel building taking up approximately half of its curtilage with an open area to the south of the main structure used for car parking with vehicular access via a private roadway from Ings Terrace. There is a garden area to the north which lies between the Chapel building and the School Room. Ings Terrace leads through to Front Street, this being the principal highway through the village of Grosmont.
Grosmont lies approximately 7 miles inland from the coastal town of Whitby and is within the North York Moors National Park.
DIMENSIONS AND FLOORSPACES
The main Chapel building is a detached structure occupying the lower part of the existing curtilage. The curtilage surrounding the Chapel has an average depth measured from the front/west boundary to the base of the substantial retaining wall behind the Chapel of 18.6m
The accommodation within the premises comprises the principal Chapel and a vestry, the dimensions of which are as follows:-
Main Chapel
Overall width 7.600m
Overall length 13.409m
Gross internal floorspace 101.908m²
Vestry
Overall width 4.054m
Overall length 3.323m
Gross internal floorspace 13.471m²
Gross internal floorspace 115.380m²
Room Heights
Maximum height within Chapel 7.355m
Maximum vestry room height - 4.112m
DETAILS OF CONSTRUCTION
The premises are traditionally constructed throughout, the principal elements of the fabric being as follows:-
Walls
Walls are primarily in solid local natural stone laid in random courses and pitch faced. There are dressed stone cills and architraves to windows with buttress features to the front elevation.
Roof
The principal roofs are pitched and covered in Welsh slate.
Floors
The Chapel floor is in tongued and grooved boarding on joists with that to the vestry being in solid construction.
Ceilings
The main Chapel ceiling is in cathedral style with the lower parts of the queen post trusses visible. The ceiling is underdrawn in matchboarding.
EXISTING LEASES
Information has been produced to show that the Chapel is located on land held under a 1,000 year lease commencing in the mid-1860's, ie from just before the building was opened for services.
The School Room located alongside is occupied on a freehold basis.
As far as is known no ground rents have been paid within living memory.
EASEMENTS AND RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS
It is understood from representatives of the Whitby Methodist Circuit and of the Grosmont Methodist Church Council that the site and buildings are not subject to the burden of, nor do they enjoy the benefit of, any easements. It has also been confirmed that there are no annual or other periodic sums charged on or issuing out of the land.
In connection with the sale of the property the following restrictive covenants will be imposed as follows:-
The building shall not be used;
a) for the manufacturer, distribution, sale or supply of intoxicating liquors, or
b) for any purpose in connection with the organisation or practice of gambling in any of its forms, or
c) as a public dance hall, or
d) for the purposes of trade for gain on Sundays, or
e) without the express consent of the Methodist Property Office for religious purposes, or
f) that no act, deed, matter or thing shall at any time be done, suffered or permitted in or upon the land hereby conveyed or any part thereof which may be or become a nuisance, annoyance or disturbance to the adjoining property retained by the Board.
In respect of the above covenants these will be registered on the Land Register.
It is believed that access arrangements from the property to Ings Terrace have been enjoyed since 1867. It is confirmed therefore that the Church premises enjoy a right of way for both vehicles and pedestrians over the various adjacent roadways and paths and out to the public highway, ie. Ings Terrace, which continues to its junction with the public highway known as Front Street.
Any Purchaser is advised to make their own enquiries as to the current situation regarding access to the premises. The same access via the trackway behind the Front Street properties, leading into the only single gated entry, has existed from 1867.
Access to the School Room is to be altered by the construction of a ramped access from Ings Terrace to the forecourt area of the Hall. Planning consent for the construction of the ramped access was granted on 21st December 2007 by the North York Moors National Park Authority under reference NYM.2007.0885.FL.
STATUTORY MATTERS
Attached to these details is a copy of a letter dated 18th October 2005 from the North York Moors National Park Authority, under their reference CSK. It should be noted that there is no consent for the property to be converted from its present use for public worship (Class D1) to use as a single dwelling (Class C3).
However there is an indication that so long as appropriate and sympathetic details for the conversion of the property are submitted, permission would be given for the change of use.
The phrase used in the letter is that the Authority would support, in principle, the conversion of the Chapel to a residential property. Such conversions should comply with Local Plan policies, particularly BE13.
It is confirmed that the property is not a Listed Building and that there are no special restrictive policies applicable in the locality.
Vehicular access to the premises is via Ings Terrace, an adopted roadway maintainable at public expense, and the unadopted off-shoot running in an east to west direction behind the Front Street properties to the entrance gates.
As the property is located within the North York Moors National Park, any changes to the overall appearance, character or quality would be considered and approved only after a stringent assessment has been completed.
GENERAL COMMENTS AND GUIDE PRICE
Inspection has confirmed that these premises are in a deteriorating condition. Over the past few years only a restricted amount of repair work has been possible and the property continues to suffer from deterioration and damage, particularly with regard to plasterwork and roof coverings.
At the present time the only main services connected are electricity within the building and a possible water supply to an outside tap. There is no foul drainage connection to the Chapel premises nor is there any heating system.
This is a relatively small structure overlooking the village of Grosmont from an elevated position. The site is attractive and being within the National Park it has a particular attraction to prospective purchasers.
We consider that this property is desirable and that subject to planning permission being granted for the conversion of the building it could provide residential accommodation of outstanding quality in an attractive location.
Offers to purchase the property are to be made on the basis of an informal tender (see details below).
Guide price - £130,000
Offers should be forwarded to Bell-Snoxell Associates Ltd at Barclays Bank House, Baxtergate, Whitby, North Yorkshire, Y021 1BW
Telephone (01947) 820262, Fax (01947) 820644
E-mail - info@bell-snoxell.co.uk
Envelopes to be marked 'Grosmont Methodist Church - Tender'
Offers will also be accepted by e-mail at the address given above
All offers to be in writing by 12 Noon 30th May 2008
Viewing
Accompanied viewing:- Saturday 17th May 2008 - 10.00am - 12.00am Noon
and
Thursday 22nd May 2008 4.00pm - 6.00pm
Other arrangements for viewing may be possible outside the above dates if necessary.
Solicitor acting for Grosmont Methodist Church Council (the Vendors)
Mr F V Richardson, Thorpe & Co, Solicitors, 3 Bagdale, Whitby,
North Yorkshire, Y021 1QL (01947) 603465
Barclays Bank House, Baxtergate, Whitby, North Yorkshire, YO21 1BW
Web: www.bell-snoxell.co.uk Phone: 01947
820262 Fax: 01947
820644 Email:
Enquiries@bell-snoxell.co.uk