Mixed-use development plans for former North Yorkshire prison revealed

A legal agreement has been sealed to enable the redevelopment of Northallerton’s former prison which will deliver the North Yorkshire town’s most significant regeneration scheme for decades.

Hambleton District Council and Hull-based regeneration company Wykeland Group have formed the Central Northallerton Development Company, a joint venture vehicle to drive forward the scheme.

The new company aims to deliver a wide-ranging regeneration of the 3.5 acre site. Proposals for the disused site include retail units, managed workspaces, a heritage centre, apartments, restaurants, a cinema and an area for public events.

Wykeland managing director Dominic Gibbons said: “With the formal structures for the development company in place we can now move forward together to deliver this very exciting scheme.

“We’re really looking forward to working closely with the local authority’s members and officers to bring an important part of Northallerton’s heritage back to life and deliver significant economic and community benefits to the town and its people.

“We’re currently working up detailed plans for a planning application to be submitted in the first quarter of 2018. Although the development is in its early stages, we have had significant interest from commercial operators who recognise the potential of this project.”

Hambleton District Council chief executive Justin Ives added: “This site gives us a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to not only support and strengthen the retail and leisure economy of Northallerton, but to benefit the whole of the Hambleton district. Wykeland shares our goals to create a high-quality scheme which will benefit the whole community, so we are very much looking forward to working with them.”

In preparation for the mixed-use development, a number of buildings have been demolished and extensive archaeological works have been carried out, during which foundations for the world’s largest treadmill were unearthed.

Five listed buildings have been retained, including the former female prison wing and the Governor’s House. These buildings will be refurbished and incorporated into the phased development of the site.

Northallerton Prison dates back to 1780 and housed prisoners for more than 230 years before closing in 2013. Hambleton District Council bought the site from the Ministry of Justice in 2014 to secure a key strategic site close to the town centre for development. The legal agreement follows a decision by the council to select Wykeland as its development partner following a competitive tender exercise.

DWF acted for Wykeland on the legal agreement and Trowers Hamlin advised Hambleton District Council.