The multi-million pounds redevelopment of Northallerton’s former prison has been given the green light.
Work on transforming the site will begin next year after the scheme won approval from members of Hambleton District Council’s Planning Committee today (November 15).
The £17m Treadmills project features retail, residential, leisure and office space as well as a large public square. It also incorporates five Grade II listed buildings which were retained when the remainder of the prison site was demolished.
The project is being delivered by the Central Northallerton Development Company (CNDC), a joint venture between Hambleton District Council and developers Wykeland Group. Discount supermarket Lidl has already been unveiled as the retail anchor for the project and Hull-based C4DI – the Centre for Digital Innovation – confirmed as the operator of the digital tech office space. Negotiations are underway to finalise operators of the remaining retail and leisure units.
Chairman of the CNDC Board, District Councillor Peter Wilkinson, said planning approval means work on the project will start in the spring of 2019.
“This is a very exciting project not just for Northallerton but for the area as a whole,” he said. “It will generate more activity in the town centre with people coming to visit the shops and enjoy the leisure experience we will offer through the restaurants and cinema.”
Planning committee members were told that the scheme aims to preserve and enhance a major part of Northallerton’s history and heritage; regenerate a large brownfield site; deliver a major boost to the local economy; and bring significant new community assets and facilities to the town.
Dominic Gibbons, Managing Director of Wykeland Group, and CNDC Board Member, said: “We’re delighted this transformational redevelopment has gained planning approval and will soon move into the construction phase.
“This scheme will respect and conserve the heritage of the site while delivering many economic, social and community benefits for Northallerton, the wider area and local residents.”
