WORK on a new multi-million pound leisure hub in Northallerton will start next month following the appointment of a contractor.

The £17m Treadmills scheme will bring a new boutique cinema, restaurants and shops to the site of the former Northallerton prison.

The project is being overseen by the Central Northallerton Development Company Ltd which has appointed Castlehouse Construction to carry for the first phase of the works.

This will focus on new retail units and car parking.

The Northern Echo:

An artist's impression on how the development will look

Castlehouse will begin on site at the end of September, with the construction project expected to last for eight months.

Supermarket groups Lidl and Iceland have committed to the scheme and will open their stores after fit-out following completion of construction.

Lidl is the retail anchor for Treadmills and will take a 21,000 sq ft unit, while Iceland will occupy a unit with 6,000 sq ft on the ground floor and a further 2,300 sq ft mezzanine level.

A further general retail unit of 1,330 sq ft is also available to complete the southern part of the development, which will also feature parking for around 130 vehicles.

Five Grade II listed former prison buildings will be restored and brought back to life as part of the mixed-use Treadmills development.

Later phases will feature a four-screen cinema, to be operated by prestige cinema group Everyman, as well as restaurants, offices and residential units.

CNDCL is a joint venture formed between Hambleton District Council and leading Yorkshire property developer Wykeland Group to deliver Treadmills.

The Northern Echo:

The Northallerton prison site during excavation work

Jonathan Stubbs, Development Director of Wykeland and a CNDCL Board member, said: “We’re delighted to award the construction contract for the first phase of Treadmills to a company with an excellent track record of delivery of projects of this kind.

“It means work will begin within weeks on the exciting transformation of this landmark site.”

Frank Kofler, managing director of Castlehouse Construction, said: “We are pleased to have been awarded this prestigious contract by CNDCL and look forward to working with the team to deliver the first phase of the scheme successfully.”