St Francis House & Monk s Cottage 27 and 29 High Street, Hemingford Grey, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire
St Francis House & Monk s Cottage 27 and 29 High Street, Hemingford Grey, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire On the instructions of Community of the Resurrection Huntingdon 7 miles Cambridge 15 miles Newmarket 27 miles Stansted Airport 33 miles London 55 miles (Kings Cross 60 minutes from Huntingdon) (All distances/times are approximates) St Francis House: Retreat house that provides a range of reception/meeting rooms, accommodation for 22 persons, a staff flat, a chapel, situated in beautiful mature gardens and grounds Suitable for continued existing institutional use or a range of alternative uses including a single family dwelling house, residential apartments/sub-division, small scale hotel or bed & breakfast, offices or retail/leisure use, subject to obtaining necessary consents Cottage: 2 bedrooms and garden Gardens and grounds: With residential development potential, subject to necessary consents For sale freehold. Available as a whole or in lots In all about 1.47 acres (0.59 hectares) 01638 662231 168 High Street, Newmarket Suffolk. CB8 9AJ Fax 01638 666472 www.jackson-stops.co.uk newmarket@jackson-stops.co.uk 020 7861 5428 55 Baker Street London, W1U 8AN Fax 020 7861 5402 www.knightfrank.com institutional@knightfrank.com
Location St Francis House is located in the charming village of Hemingford Grey which is situated on the southern bank of the River Great Ouse in the county of Cambridgeshire. It adjoins Hemingford Abbots to the west with St Ives to the north of the river. The centre of the village has an attractive mixture of buildings including thatched timber-framed cottages and a church. There is a Post Office and village shop on the High Street along with The Cock public house and restaurant. Village amenities include a sports field and pavilion, the Reading Room, St James Parish Centre and a primary school. The village holds an annual Regatta and biennial Flower Festival. Golf courses are located at St Ives, Bar Hill, Royston and Cambridge. From the property one can enjoy walks along the river and meadows nearby. The town of Huntingdon is three miles to the west where for the commuter there are fast and regular train services serving London Kings Cross, taking around an hour. The University City of Cambridge is approximately 14 miles to the south east and offers unrivalled schooling opportunities and excellent shopping and amenity facilities. The A14 which connects with the M11 and A1(M) is easily accessible. Stansted Airport is approximately 33 miles distant. History St Francis House has been owned by the Community of the Resurrection, a registered Charity whose mother house is in Mirfield in Yorkshire, since 1950. The house has been used as an Anglican Retreat House since that time and has been open to all denominations. Originally believed to be a Georgian family house, the property was extended and converted to its current use in 1951 and then renovated and refurbished to provide purpose built accommodation for 22 guests in around 1985. The Community have now decided to dispose of the property as they wish to focus their energies on redeveloping their mother house in Yorkshire. Description Lots 1a and 1b St Francis House and grounds (In all about 1.393 acres/0.564 hectares) St Francis House is a classical Georgian house with white rendered painted elevations, a pitched slate roof and large sash windows. Internally the accommodation is arranged to suit the needs of the Community with two large reception rooms with views over the gardens and further accommodation including a reading room, offices, a chapel, and extensive bedroom accommodation together with a self contained staff flat with 3 bedrooms. There is a large attractive garden interspersed with mature trees and shrubs. Central to the life of the House is the Chapel on the upper floor. The dining room, lounge, small library and reading room are on the ground floor. The grounds, which comprise lot 1b, to the north of the house are laid out with flower beds, trees and shrubs and extend to c 0.33 ha (0.83 acres). It is considered that the grounds have potential for development, subject to obtaining necessary consents. We refer you to the comment in the section headed Planning of this brochure. A meeting with the local planning authority and conservation officer has been arranged and any changes to the developable area will be circulated as appropriate. Lot 2 Monk s Cottage (In all about 0.076 acres/0.031 hectares) Monk s Cottage is understood to date from the late 17th Century and comprises a timber framed cottage with a pitched tiled roof under rendered/rough plaster elevations. The accommodation is arranged over ground and first floors and comprises on the ground floor a reception hall, kitchen and sitting room. Town planning Below is a synopsis of the planning status of the property setting out our view on the existing use and development potential of the property. St Francis House is not a statutorily listed building and has a lawful Class C2 residential institution use as a religious residential retreat house; The Cottage is a Grade II listed building and has a lawful use as a Class C3 residential dwelling house ; Both properties are located in the Hemingfords Conservation Area where there is an assumption against demolition of the existing buildings which are likely to be considered as positively contributing to the character and appearance of the Conservation Area;
There are no policies contained within the Development Plan that explicitly seek to protect existing Class C2 residential institutional uses; If the Council were to grant planning permission for the loss of the existing Class C2 religious residential retreat use, they would be likely to support the conversion of St Francis to accommodate a range of alternative uses including a single family dwelling house, residential apartments, small scale hotel or B&B, offices or retail/ leisure use; It is not considered that there is potential to change the use of the Cottage at no. 27 High Street given its Grade II statutory listing and the protection afforded to existing Class C3 residential dwellings; It is not considered that development potential exists for those parts of the grounds lying to the north and west of St Francis House given difficulties of access, likely concerns over overdevelopment and proximity to existing buildings; It is considered that development potential exists for those parts of the grounds lying to the east of St Francis House and to the west/north of the Cottage and measuring approximately 0.33 ha (0.831 acres) in size; subject to obtaining the necessary consents. A detailed planning report has been prepared by Knight Frank Planning Consultancy Department, which is available on the dedicated website (details below). Tenure The property is freehold and vacant possession will be available on completion. The freehold title is registered under title number CB349230. Details are available on the dedicated website. The property is sold subject to, and/or with the benefit of any rights of way, easements or restrictions which may exist, whether or not mentioned in these particulars. Vendor s solicitor Whitfield Hallam Goodall, 7 King Street, Mirfield, WF14 8AW. Tel: 01924 499251. Contact Malcolm G Parkinson. Charities Act The sale of the property is subject to the provisions of the Charities Act. Services It is understood that mains water, electricity, gas and drainage are available to the property, although it will be the responsibility of the purchaser to ensure they are available and adequate for any future use of the site. Statutory authority Huntingdon District Council, Pathfinder House, St Mary s Street, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, PE29 3TN. Tel: 01480 388388. Plans, areas and schedules These are based on Ordnance Survey and are for reference only. They have been checked and completed by the Vendor s agents and the purchaser shall be deemed to be satisfied as to the description of the property. Any error or mis-statement shall not annul the lease/sale nor entitle either party to compensation in respect thereof. Lotting The property is available as a whole or up to three separate lots. The lots are as follows: Lot 1a and 1b St Francis House and grounds Lot 2 Monk s Cottage
Method of sale The freehold interest of the site is also made available for sale as a whole or in lots by private treaty. In both instances however we do reserve the right to proceed to an informal tender process. Please see the dedicated website for the bid procedure document. VAT All offers should be made exclusive of VAT. VAT, if chargeable, is payable by the purchaser. Viewing arrangements Should you wish to arrange a viewing, which is strictly by prior appointment only, please contact Tom Scaife at Knight Frank LLP. Tel: 020 7861 5429 or email tom.scaife@knightfrank.com ; or Jock Lloyd-Jones at Jackson-Stops & Staff on 01638 662231 or email jock.lloydjones@jackson-stops.co.uk Postal address St Francis House, Hemingford Grey, Huntingdon, PE28 9BJ. Monk s Cottage, 27 High Street, Hemingford Grey, Huntingdon, PE28 9BJ Postcode/sat nav ref PE28 9BJ Further information Further information on the property is available including: Existing Floorplans EPC Title Information Bid Procedure This Brochure Planning information This information is available from the dedicated website: www.inst.knightfrank.com/view/stfrancis The password is house. Should you wish to discuss the property in further detail please contact: EPC - St Francis House EPC - The Cottage Sophie Linton MA MRICS, Associate Knight Frank LLP 55 Baker Street London W1U 8AN Tel +44 (0)20 7861 5428 sophie.linton@knightfrank.com Jock Lloyd-Jones FNAEA, Partner Jackson-Stops & Staff 168 High Street Newmarket CB8 9AJ Tel + 44 (0)1638 662231 jock.lloydjones@jackson-stops.co.uk Site plan Draft lotting plan
Schedule of Gross Internal Areas Building Floor Sq.m. Sq.ft. Main House Ground 389.0 4187 First 352.1 3790 Total 741.1 7977 Cottage Ground Floor 46.4 499 First Floor 37.5 404 Total 83.9 903 Grand Total 825.0 8880 St Francis floorplan Ground floor Monk s Cottage floorplan First floor Disclaimer: Measurements and calculations are carried out in accordance with RICS guidelines. Whilst every effort is taken to ensure the accuracy of the information, all figures are for reference only and must not be relied upon as a statement of fact.
NOTE: This plan is for convenience of Purchasers only. Its accuracy is not guaranteed and it is expressly excluded from any contract. This plan is based upon the Ordnance Survey Map with the sanction of the Controller of H.M. Stationery Office. Crown Copyright reserved. Licence No. ES100017767. NOTE: This plan is for convenience of Purchasers only. Its accuracy is not guaranteed and it is expressly excluded from any contract. This plan is based upon the Ordnance Survey Map with the sanction of the Controller of H.M. Stationery Office. Crown Copyright reserved. Licence No. ES100017767. Important notice 1. Particulars: These particulars are not an offer or contract, nor part of one. You should not rely on statements by Knight Frank LLP in the particulars or by word of mouth or in writing ( information ) as being factually accurate about the property, its condition or its value. Neither Knight Frank LLP nor any joint agent has any authority to make any representations about the property, and accordingly any information given is entirely without responsibility on the part of the agents, seller(s) or lessor(s). 2. Photos etc: The photographs show only certain parts of the property as they appeared at the time they were taken. Areas, measurements and distances given are approximate only. 3. Regulations etc: Any reference to alterations to, or use of, any part of the property does not mean that any necessary planning, building regulations or other consent has been obtained. A buyer or lessee must find out by inspection or in other ways that these matters have been properly dealt with and that all information is correct. 4. VAT: The VAT position relating to the property may change without notice. Particulars dated: November 2009. Photographs dated: September 2009. Knight Frank LLP is a limited liability partnership registered in England with registered number OC305934. Our registered office is 55 Baker Street, London, W1U 8AN, where you may look at a list of members names.