A PLANNING application to create a £1.5m community hub for two small villages is set to be considered by councillors.

The proposals for Sessay and Hutton Sessay, near Thirsk, follow architects Sutherland Hussey Harris being selected as the winner of an international architecture contest to design the multi-purpose building.

The scheme includes linear, single-storey sports pavilions featuring spectator and social facilities for the villages' cricket and bowls clubs, which the parish council believes are sympathetic to properties built in the village by 19th century architect William Butterfield.

The project will provide a second cricket pitch, a double multi-use games area for tennis, football and other sports as well as an outdoor children’s adventure play area.

The parish council-led proposals also include a new village hall, bar and café, meeting rooms and improved catering facilities for functions and weddings as well as a site for potential allotments.

The architects have added plans for five homes on the site of the existing village hall, which will generate funding for the hub scheme while meeting the community’s future housing requirements.

Set to be considered by Hambleton District Council in June, the scheme follows the production of a Community Plan for the villages, which have a combined population of 400.

A parish council spokesman said while the village hall had been a focal point for a spectrum of social events, the buildings were un-insulated and had become expensive to run and maintain.

He said: "In short, the existing facilities contribute nothing architecturally and are becoming very difficult to manage in order to provide the facilities required socially for the village."

Parish council chairman Councillor John MacPherson said the architects had shown extraordinary commitment and put in a great deal of work to amend their original design.

He said: "We are very much on target and are looking forward to working together to create a community facility that people will talk about and want to visit for many years to come.”