CONTROVERSIAL plans to convert a former police headquarters into a children's activity centre have been quashed.

Planning permission and listed building consent for the change of use of the former North Yorkshire Police site in Newby Wiske Hall, near Northallerton, into a 550-bed residential centre, have been rejected by the High Court.

Hambleton District Council’s planning committee will now reconsider the applications by PGL for the Newby Wiske site.

The Newby Wiske Hall Action Group, formed to oppose the development, had appointed a barrister who believed that there were grounds for a review.

The grounds included whether the planning officer report significantly misled the committee; whether enough importance was placed on the heritage of the hall and grounds; and over the non-disclosure of documentation about expected noise levels at the site.

The planning and listed building decisions had been challenged in the High Court – with local protesters asking for them to be overturned on five grounds.

The district council has agreed with two of those grounds – about how the impact on the setting of the listed building was considered and on that basis agreed that the decision be quashed and re-heard.

“On balance we agree with some of the legal points raised and rather than go through a formal High Court hearing which costs time and money we have agreed to the decision being quashed and that the issues are looked at again when planning committee reconsiders the applications,” said deputy chief executive of the council Mick Jewitt.

“While we are disappointed with this outcome we feel this is the fairest for everyone – and we will save unnecessary costs for the council.

"Officers will now assess the applications afresh and members of the Planning Committee will then decide on the matter again.”

PGL intends to transform the historic Newby Wiske Hall and its grounds into a minibreak centre offering youngsters a range of outdoor activities.

Plans included for the lake to be extended for kayaking and canoeing, and an outdoor games area with climbing walls and rope courses would be built.

Residents complained the location of the site, at the heart of a quiet village, was unsuitable for the development and are now calling for a judicial review into the planning approval decision.