Over 50 Attend St Ives’ Old Vicarage Open Day Ahead of Refurbishment

The Old Vicarage in St Ives, originally built in the 1830s, opened its doors to more than 50 local visitors on Saturday during an Open Day hosted by St Ives Community Land Trust. Attendees toured the historic building, shared memories, and learned about its transformation into affordable housing for the local community.

Major Renovation Works Underway

The Old Vicarage, also known as the Parsonage, has a rich history, serving as the vicar’s residence until the 1950s and later housing various local organisations. After lying empty since 2016, the building was purchased by the community in 2019, thanks to over £240,000 raised through a community share issue, donations, and support from Triodos Bank.

Significant preparatory works have already been completed, including roof replacement, window repairs, asbestos removal, and internal demolition. Essential infrastructure updates have been made with the National Grid, BT, and Kensa Engineering. Boreholes for a ground source heat pump system will be drilled soon to support the eco-friendly heating solution planned for the flats.

Affordable Housing for Local Residents

The refurbished building will feature two one-bedroom flats and four two-bedroom flats, exclusively available for rent to individuals with strong local ties to the parish. The application criteria and process will be announced soon, with the project expected to be completed in six months. Tenants are anticipated to move in by autumn next year.

The Community Land Trust is prioritising the preservation of original features such as the sash windows and the staircase banister, ensuring the building retains its historical character.

Supported by Local and National Funding

This project is funded by contributions from the community and organisations including the Architectural Heritage Fund, Homes England, Cornwall Community Land Trust, St Ives Town Council, and the Rotary Club. Additionally, earlier this year, the project received £750,000 from the St Ives Town Deal Fund, enabling the refurbishment to move forward.

Looking to the Future

With work set to begin before Christmas, the Trust is seeking further financial support to explore smart delivery systems for utilities, aiming to keep costs low for future tenants.

The Old Vicarage Flats project demonstrates the impact of community collaboration in addressing the pressing need for affordable housing in St Ives.