A new health and wellbeing hub which is being created at one of Northamptonshire’s most important historic sites will be environmentally friendly thanks to a major funding boost.

Delapré Abbey is working on the £5 million ‘A Stable Future’ project to repair its substantial 19^th century stables and associated buildings and transform them into a new health and wellbeing hub with retail spaces.

The project has received £198,348 from the South Midlands Growth Hub to help Delapré Abbey to cover the costs of the hub’s ground source heat pump and solar photovoltaic system.

Growth Hub Manager Ruth Roan said: “We’re pleased to support the ‘A Stable Future’ project via the Growing Innovation Fund.

“Our aim was to support projects that strengthened innovation, supported decarbonisation ambitions and assisted commercial opportunities. ‘A Stable Future’ does that.  The project is set to generate improved health, wellbeing and retail opportunities for the local community. It will also help to secure a financially sustainable future for the Delapré Abbey Preservation Trust and the long-term preservation of the whole Abbey site.

“The South Midlands Growth Hub provides a range of support to improve the future prosperity of communities across our region, including business advice and grants that can help organisations unlock new growth opportunities.”

Richard Clinton, Chief Executive of Delapré Abbey Preservation Trust, said: “We’re very grateful to have received this support. Delapré Abbey is a nationally important site that means so much to so many people and this project which will help us to preserve its history and enable us to create a space that nurtures community, wellbeing and sustainability for generations to come.

“With this project we’re also aiming to demonstrate how low-carbon technologies can be successfully integrated in a complex heritage setting to improve productivity, resilience and long-term sustainability. The ground source heat pump and solar photovoltaic system we’re installing thanks to this funding will help us to realise this ambition.”

When the scheme is completed, it is forecast that it will deliver 32,500 kilowatt hour (kWh) savings per year and an overall carbon saving of 8,575 tonnes alongside an estimated £13,022 reduction in energy costs each year which will strengthen the Abbey’s financial resilience.

The trust also recently launched the Stable Stories fundraiser to give the wider community the chance to get involved in the project.

It gives people the opportunity to have their name embossed on to one of a series of commemorative metal plates which will be installed around the refurbished stables complex.

The plates will be made of SG iron, which naturally weathers to a rich rust-orange colour over time. By making a donation, your name will be added alongside others on a shared commemorative plate. Plates cost £80 for one person’s name or £160 for two people’s names. For those wishing to include a family name, such as The Delapré Family, the cost is £125. A printed keepsake certificate is also available for £10.

The first set of plates will be installed into the central courtyard at the heart of the stables complex which will be accessible to all. The deadline to be featured in the first set of plates is August 2026.

The plates are not available to groups, clubs or companies. Organisations which are interested in supporting ‘A Stable Future’ are invited to contact fundraising@delapreabbey.org

To add your name, go to https://tinyurl.com/56nwnn8e

To learn about the work of the South Midlands Growth Hub go to https://growthhub.southmidlands.org.uk/ or to find out more about Delapré Abbey visit https://delapreabbey.org/