Impact moves into Developed Design Stage 3

The Belfrey has been on quite a journey to reach this point in the building project. When the Impact board gave its update in March, we were nearing the end of Stage 2 believing that we had the right Concept design, and could start to look at the detail. At the end of May we reached the point where the Board could sign off Stage 2 and move fully into Stage 3.

Stage 3 is all about developing the design of each feature within the project based on its Use so that the design works well as a whole. Some Stage 3 work has already been completed on the external and internal repairs required such as the new roof, the stained glass and the stone work. View the animated video on the Impact home page which tells you more about Developed Design and/or scroll to the end of the page to read the Project Outline.

The rest of this stage will pay particular attention to the Reordering and refining key features. For example, details of the first floor gallery have included tweaking the height so that the raking of the seats is slightly lower against the west window and slightly higher in the welcome area to improve the welcome and view of the church; inserting additional glass in the lift to create a less intrusive structure while maintaining dignity; and making sure the bleacher seats are easy to pull out and stow away.

We are currently in an extended pre application process with City of York Council (the local planning authority) to look at external aspects of the design such as the new roof, the landscaping at the west end and how 12 Minster Yard can be integrated with the Church building. It gives the Impact team and LDN Architects more time with the Planners to work through potential objections and particular design features to improve the quality of the final planning application.

Extensive consultation will continue with our Stakeholders including the sub cttee of the Diocesan Advisory Committee to build greater assurance of the detail in the design and improve our supporting Statements of Need and Significance.  

Construction Stage - Due to the amount of consultation and work required in Stage 2, it means that the Construction stage of the project is now not expected to start until autumn 2022 at the earliest. The Belfrey will have to move out of the Church during construction so a Decant and Mission Opportunities working group will be set up this summer to identify alternative locations which can be secured as a temporary home(s) for the church family when we have to move and at the same time, identify key opportunities to develop new activities which continue to flourish once we move back into our reordered building.

Cost - The total project is expected to cost in the region of £9m to achieve the Belfrey’s requirements which now includes the development of 12 Minster Yard. It is estimated that 40% will be spent on repair and 60% on reordering. The wonderful news we received last year of a very generous gift means The Belfrey has the majority of funding required to see the project through to completion. A Fundraising Campaign will be launched in 2022 and Impact still hopes to benefit from the Listed Places of Worship grant scheme.

To Conclude, the Developed Design stage falls into 3 big pieces of work - getting the detail of the design right to inform the technical and construction stages and meet the current and intended uses we have for the building. Secondly to vigorously scrutinise the cost and timescale of the project to ensure value for money; and finally to submit our Planning and Faculty applications for approval.

Action - Your support for the project continues to be highly valued by the Impact board and team. Please join the webinars and presentations we host, and keep asking questions; consider giving to the project when we launch the fundraising campaign; and above all pray.

Prayer - Please pray for God’s direction and leading over this project so that it meets our requirements and supports the 5-Year Road Map and The Belfrey continues to a be a hub of faith, energy, dynamism and a wonderful outpouring of Christ’s love into the city and region for generations to come.

Project outline
The project was conceived originally back in 2011 (and discussed many years before that) but halted due to finance. It was restarted again in 2017/2018 when a generous donor gave the Belfrey £1m+ towards the project. The same donation enabled the board to recruit a Project Manager and embark on a design competition to find the right architect, in 2019.  Impact is about repairing and reordering the Church building so it can ‘Honour our Past, Resource our Future and Empower our Vision’.

In 2018 the board consulted carefully with the Belfrey church family to identify the key requirements wanted from the project. This included:

·       A lighter, more spacious and inviting Welcome and entrance area

·       Flexible space on the ground floor and maintaining a significant capacity (originally 600 but now 550).

·       Meeting rooms for children’s work, prayer and pastoral work

·       Permanent solution to full immersion baptism (currently a temporary pool is used)

·       Improved amenities including capacity and accessibility of toilets and a new servery

·       Appropriate technology with future proofing where possible

·       Accessibility in all its forms

·       Structural repair works completed as identified in the Five yearly (Quinquennial) Reports

The Concept Design has the proposed key features:

·       Two new openings at the west end to improve the welcome area, circulation of people and more effective use of external space for evangelistic events

·       Removal of all pews to create a flexible ground floor space and replaced with wooden chairs

·       Meeting space created between entrance area and nave (main part of the Church)

·       Removal of existing gallery and installation of new gallery with comfortable seating, provision for an informal meeting space, open staircases and platform lift

·       Replacement of floor with a limecrete finish and underfloor heating making the building accessible and welcoming

·       Installation of permanent full immersion baptistery centrally located in the nave

·       Flexible staging

·       Two accessible toilets at the west end. Additional toilets and storage in current vestry area

·       Servery at the west end

·       Technology update and possible relocation of media desk

·       New opening at the north east end of the building giving level access to the current vestry area and into 12 Minster Yard.

·       Provision in 12 Minster Yard for 4 meeting rooms at ground and first floor one of which will include a new vestry. Platform lift for access to the first floor