Charnwood House

Charnwood House – keeping you informed

As announced in March 2022, we are bringing Charnwood House back into community use and will be using this page to keep you updated on how things are progressing.

Our overriding aim is to breathe a new lease of life into Charnwood House, so that it can be used by local people and community groups, for the benefit of the town and wider district.

We are acutely aware of the importance of this building to Hitchin. While bringing it back into use, we also are keen to see the historic elements of Charnwood House retained, so any refurbishment by the successful leaseholder will be sensitive to the special character of the building, in-keeping with its Grade II listed status.

We’re delighted that several organisations have registered their interest in leasing Charnwood House and are awaiting final confirmation of their interest, including detailed business plans, by the end of November 2023.

Frequently asked questions

Please find answers to frequently asked questions below. We will continue to update this page regularly with the latest developments of Charnwood House.

Are you selling Charnwood House?

No. Charnwood House was given to the Council in 1937 to be held for the benefit of the people of Hitchin and there is no intention to sell the property. Our current plan is to lease Charnwood House under a long lease, whilst remaining the freeholder. As a result, we can maintain greater control over the property than if it were to be sold and ensure that the future tenant maintains the property in good and proper condition. It also means that the property’s future use remains in line with our requirements that it is available for community use.

Are the reports that the museum needs saving correct?

Definitely not. We are as keen as the local community are to return Charnwood House to its former glory as soon as possible. The building is in need of repair, as it has stood empty for some while. We have already removed asbestos from Charnwood House. We now have a contractor in place to carry out any further urgent works at the end of November and complete them by the end of 2023.

In addition, North Herts Council has allocated £400,000 to help the new lease owner with further refurbishment required between now and when they first open their doors. It can also be used as match funding for the tenant to make external grant applications.

Are you going to profit from Charnwood House?

The Council will not be profiting from Charnwood House in any way. Any monies generated by the community group that leases Charnwood House will be ploughed straight back into Charnwood House’s use for the community.

Why is it taking so long to get someone into Charnwood House?

We want to ensure that Charnwood House is leased by the right tenant who will ensure it becomes the community hub we all want it to be. We have extended the submission date so that the interested parties have sufficient time to submit their detailed business plans.

How will you decide who to grant the lease to for Charnwood House?

The decision will be based on a rigorous review of the business plans submitted. The lease will only be granted to the organisation that can prove their proposed use of the building is viable, sustainable and in-line with the covenant.