A CHARITY is planning to launch a pioneering, abstinence-based drug and alcohol recovery service in an historic York building.

The Cyrenians charity says it has been commissioned by City of York Council to provide the non-residential service, to be known as Oaktrees York, in 15th century Bowes Morrell House in Walmgate.

The award-winning charity says the service will be open to people who commit to abstinence as their choice of process of recovery from substance misuse.

“All those benefiting from the service must be free from current alcohol or drug use as a prerequisite to taking up a place on the 12-week programme,” said a spokeswoman.

The programme includes one-to-one counselling, group therapy, workshops for developing techniques to prevent relapse, therapeutic reading and writing exercises, and fellowship meetings.

Documents accompanying a planning application to City of York Council for internal alterations to the Grade II* listed building say there is essentially no change in use, as it was previously used as a non-residential drug and alcohol rehabilitation centre for young people and the proposed use is for a non-residential drug and alcohol rehabilitation/counselling centre for people of all ages.

The previous occupant was Foundation, a charity which, according to its website, “works with socially-excluded people helping them to gain full independence in their local community”.

Guildhall councillor Brian Watson said that in his view there was a proposed change of use as well as internal alterations.

He said concerns had been raised with him about the building’s close proximity to community arts centre Space 109, and he had therefore called the application in, for it to be considered by councillors rather than officers alone.

A Cyrenians spokeswoman said it had been advised the proposal did not constitute a change of use.

Assistant director Eileen Ronan said the planned service was based on a highly-effective model The Cyrenians had pioneered and had been running in the North East for almost four years.

“In that time, we have worked with a very wide range of people from across society who continue to live a life free from drugs and alcohol,” she said.

“We have demonstrated that people can and do recover from addiction.”