This is how the Rowntree Park lodge could look under plans now in.
Under the proposals, the upper two floors of the building and its garden will be transformed.
The plans have been submitted by the Friends of Rowntree Park who say: “Our aim is to provide a high quality conversion of the upper two floors and the enclosed rear garden into an accessible and sustainable Community Space within Rowntree Park.”
Built as the park keeper’s lodge, and opened with the park in 1921, the building houses the Explore Reading Café, which will continue to operate.
But the rest of the lodge has been empty for six years, and last year the Friends started a consultation on its plans to create a ‘dynamic community centre’ at the heart of the park. These plans are the result.
To make the upper floors accessible to all, a lift will be installed.
“At first floor level, the entrance hall space is opened up to create a large reception area that also encompasses the entrance from the new lift.
“This entrance space will be configured to receive members of public to the venue, from where they may be directed to the various other spaces and uses,” says a design statement.
There will also be another entry point at the back of the building “providing access via a new lobby to the accessible lift”.
History of Rowntree Park lodge
Rowntree Park Lodge was built as part of the original 1921 municipal park. The lower-ground floor was first used as a boat house for the lake, the ground floor as a café / tea room, and the first and second floor as the Park Keeper’s lodge. The building was restored in 2002 and the ground floor remains in use as the Explore Rowntree Park Reading Café. The park keeper moved out of the lodge in 2017, and the accommodation has remained vacant since.
Rowntree Park Lodge is not listed, nationally or locally, but is recognised as being a non-designated heritage asset because of its contribution to the Grade-II listed Registered Park and Garden.
Source: Planning documents
The top floor of the building will house the offices of the Friends of Rowntree Park, and an additional community use space overlooking the park.
Inside, the building will be redecorated and new furniture added. “The design for the internal renovation of the Park Keeper’s Lodge intends to draw on the tradition and details found in the Arts & Crafts style, sensitively restoring and adding appropriate finishes for the use within each space,” the documents add.
Outside “the garden space to the rear will be re landscaped, with new greenhouses installed within”.
The lodge, owned by City of York Council, is not listed “but is recognised as being a non-designated heritage asset for its contribution to the Grade-II listed Registered Park and Garden”.
“It has therefore been an important part of the design process to consider the impact of the proposals on the appearance of the park and minimise any which might be detrimental, accepting that some changes of appearance are the unavoidable consequence of complying with other legal obligations, such as disabled access,” says the planning statement.
You can read and comment on the plans here.