Green light for £17m transformation of North Yorkshire prison site

The multi-million pound transformation of the former Northallerton Prison site has been given the green light.

The £17m Treadmills project features retail, residential, leisure and office space as well as a large public square.

The scheme also incorporates five Grade-II listed buildings which were retained when the remainder of the prison site was demolished.

Work on transforming the site will begin next year after the scheme won approval from members of Hambleton District Council’s Planning Committee

The Central Northallerton Development Company (CNDC), a joint venture between Hambleton District Council and developers Wykeland Group, will deliver the project.

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.

District councillor Peter Wilkinson, chairman of the CNDC Board, said: “This is a very exciting project not just for Northallerton but for the area as a whole. 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.”

Dominic Gibbons, managing director of Wykeland Group, and CNDC Board Member, added: “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.”