Pocklington Town Council takes Control of the Community Hall on 1st October
After 15 months of planning and negotiating, by a small team of Town Councillors, Trustees and volunteers, the Burnby Hall project now moves a major step closer to realisation.
On 11th September 2024 East Riding of Yorkshire Council (ERYC) and Pocklington Town Council (PTC) agreed the Heads of Terms for a 125 year lease on Burnby Hall. ERYC have now begun vacating the premises. To allow the Community Hall to remain open, PTC have been granted a licence by ERYC to operate the facility from the 1st October 2024, whilst the detailed lease agreement is drawn up. Once the lease agreement is concluded, control of Burnby Hall will pass to PTC. The Town Council will then issue a lease to Pocklington Community Trust to operate the building on behalf of the residents of Pocklington.
As part of the Heads of Terms, PTC have negotiated an option to acquire the freehold of Burnby Hall, subject to a change in ERYC’s Community Asset Transfer Policy. PTC will continue to negotiate with ERYC to secure the freehold.
Architects have been appointed and a Grant Consultant will be engaged shortly. Following a programme of refurbishment and repair Burnby Hall will reopen as a Community Hub and Enterprise Centre. A permanent home will also be offered to a Youth Group, Food Bank and Archaeological Museum – that will showcase local finds of national and international significance.
The Town Council and the Trustees of the Pocklington Community Trust CIO would like to thank the local Ward Councillors for their support through what has been at times a frustrating journey, and we look forward to their on-going assistance. We would also like to offer our thanks to local residents who have expressed their almost unanimous support for the Burnby Hall project, through their participation in the various community engagements PTC has carried out over the last 15 months. Lastly, we would like to thank ERYC for proceeding with the Community Asset Transfer.
