Unanimous approval for Scargill plans 

Redevelopment plans for the Yorkshire-based Christian retreat centre Scargill House have been approved

Scargill House is home to a Christian community who welcome people for holidays, conferences and retreats in the spectacular Yorkshire Dales. The Scargill Movement Community had already invested significantly in the buildings just outside Kettlewell since 2009.

However, there has been a growing recognition of the necessity to undertake 'sympathetic regeneration of a significant number of the buildings in order to make them fit for purpose in the 21st century', the Community said in a statement.

'At the heart of the proposals is a desire by the charity to incorporate environmentally sound best practice into the buildings as well as responding to current and future guest expectations, including level access across the site for less mobile guests,' the statement continued.  

'Allied to the importance of the long term sustainability and viability of Scargill, is ensuring the upkeep of the grade 2* listed Chapel which is used daily by the resident Community who take their stewardship of this sacred space very seriously.

'The overall philosophy of the scheme is to use the existing footprint of the buildings and to improve and integrate these into a cohesive whole. It is believed that the transformation, which will be phased, can be achieved in an elegant and sensitive manner, despite the huge technical challenges of Scargill House being built on the side of the Dale.'

Planners at the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority (YDNPA) unanimously approved the proposed redevelopment plans. Champion for Development Management at YDNPA Robert Heseltine, said, 'Over the years Scargill House and the substantial complex around it has come to rest well into the landscape of Wharfedale. This application will only further improve this beautiful and peaceful location.

'The many guests that are attracted to Scargill House bring considerable benefits to the local economy. God speed to the applicant.'



Chair of the Trustees of Scargill House Bishop Chris Edmondson said, 'I am thrilled that the Planning Committee of the Yorkshire Dales National Park have unanimously approved our recent planning submission. We are very grateful for their support, and with it the recognition of the immense amount of detailed and sensitive work that has gone into this application.

'Having been involved as Chair since the purchase of the buildings in 2009, and reopening of Scargill in 2010, it's been amazing, and so clearly a work of God, to witness the way in which the life, ministry and reach of Scargill has developed and grown during the past eight years. As well as the re-establishment of an international Community, with inspirational leadership, each year the number of guests has risen significantly, and as well as repaying all the major loans, for the last five years we have more than met our operational budget.

'All this gives us confidence, that while finding the necessary money over the next 10 to 15 years to fund these building developments will be immensely challenging, because at the heart of Scargill is 'lives shared, lives transformed with Jesus at the centre', we are convinced that where something is God's vision, we will also see his provision. 

'This has been very evident in the journey so far, as we have experienced immense generosity on the part of many people. Please join us in praying that this next chapter in the Scargill story - we celebrate 60 years next year since its original opening in 1959! - will see many more lives touched and transformed to the praise and glory of God.'

Find out more about the Scargill Community and their work by visiting www.scargillmovement.org