CHILDRENS activity company PGL has submitted its plans to transform the historic grounds of the former North Yorkshire Police HQ at Newby Wiske into an activity centre.

The sale of Newby Wiske Hall was first made public in March and PGL has now lodged its application with Hambleton District Council detailing its plans for the site.

They include the installation of giant rope swings, double zip wires and climbing walls as well as three multi-use games areas.

There will also be an extension to the lake for canoeing, kayaking and rafting as well as an archery area, rope courses and a sensory trail among other activities.

The proposal would generate 109 permanent jobs during the centre’s operation and also offer potential work to local contractors during the refurbishment of the Grade II Listed hall and outbuildings.

The alterations made to the hall and associated buildings will involve up to 550 guest bed spaces, staff accommodation and an outdoor tent area.

However, the planning report says these alterations “would not affect the historic fabric of any buildings that stand within the curtilage of the Main Hall building”.

It adds: “Internally, changes to the current layout of several historic buildings are minimal.”

The report details efforts made to place activity structures sensitively in the historic grounds - some of which date back to the17th century - but the development will still lead to the felling of more than 80 trees.

"In total it is proposed to fell 83 individually surveyed trees, three groups of trees, and part of a further two groups of trees.," the report adds.

“The majority of this tree felling would be carried out for good arboricultural management and would involve the removal of relatively small trees within densely growing woodland.

“It is not considered that this felling would impact on public amenity, the wider landscape or the integrity of the site.”

PGL held a public consultation into its plans at Newby Wiske Hall last month and although the majority who attended supported the approach to reusing the buildings, there were still some concerns.

These include loss of wildlife habitat, traffic from coaches bringing groups to the site, noise associated with the activity centre and whether local people would still be allowed to use the grounds to walk round.

PGL sought to address residents’ concerns in its planning report, with a traffic forecast finding the proposals would result in a “significantly lower” number of vehicles passing through Newby Wiske, South Otterington and the surrounding areas than generated by the police HQ.

In terms of noise, it adds that following an assessment, the increase in sound levels as a result of outdoor activities is less than 1dB.

PGL has also sought to reach a solution to the residents’ previous use of the land and has earmarked an area towards the front of the site for recreational use of registered users under a scheme to be set up on a trial basis.

A date has not yet been set for Hambleton District Council to consider the application, but a determination deadline of August 7 is expected.

The consultation period ends on July 11 and so far two objections have been lodged online.

The application can be viewed at planning.hambleton.gov.uk.