Searching for a property
Thanks to the ongoing generosity of people within the Dechen community, a team with a broad range of experience are seriously engaged in the site-search for the Mikyo Dorje Institute.
Bearing in mind the varied functions of the Institute, the team are searching estate agents' websites, posting letters to landowners and carefully investigating surroundings, to find places with potential.
Worthwhile properties are discussed at a weekly meeting.
Since the beginning of July four properties have been visited, selected from a shortlist of more than fifty. Each has been inspiring but not suitable. The team are continuing the search systematically and with confidence that an excellent place will emerge.
The photos below are from the four sites, one in each county of Cheshire, Shropshire, Yorkshire and Derbyshire.
The criteria to filter properties include:
A large building for hosting individual and group retreats of 12-15 people. This will be usable straight away ('turnkey')
Within 1.5 hour's drive from Manchester and near a mainline train station, so people can access and help run the Institute
A separate building or indoor space with a large footprint, for conversion into a meditation and teaching hall
Approximately 10-25 acres of land
No immediate neighbours and in a beautiful landscape
The sites viewed have been farmhouses offering a ready-to-use house, large outbuilding(s) and natural landscapes. Whilst good on paper, they had flaws including being architecturally unsuitable for retreats, needing expensive renovation, being too isolated, lacking space to host teachings, or subject to strong planning restrictions. Other options are also being explored such as hotels and event spaces.
On 28th July, the team met with the former head of Conservation Planning in the Peak District National Park. He reviewed a property and outlined 'change of use' for existing structures and planning restrictions on new buildings. The team learnt that change of use for agricultural buildings in the National Park is difficult, but change of use of a house, currently used as rented accommodation, into a retreat centre would not be an issue. He offered to continue to support us and be consulted on new sites, inside or outside the National Park. This was an invaluable learning experience and a strong contact to have made.
Part of the Institute's success depends on developing a robust business plan, based on its forecasted use. The team will soon consult the community to ascertain which activities would be most desirable, how frequently these would be attended, and associated costs. This, with analysis of the current market for retreat centres with similar facilities, will help ensure projections withstand the scrutiny of the bank and board of trustees, and be a basis for long-term financial viability.
To support the search, practices of Namgyalma are continuing in local centres, alongside 10,000 recitations of Samantabhadra's King of Aspiration Prayers.
(Recitations can be recorded here: https://mantras.dechen.community/).
Thank you for reading.
Best wishes,
The Mikyo Dorje Institute project team.
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