An application for full planning permission and listed building consent to transform the former Northallerton Prison site into a retail, leisure and business centre has been put forward to Hambleton District Council.

• Plan to transform key site into retail park

The scheme is being led by Central Northallerton Development Company, a joint venture between Hambleton District Council and Wykeland Group, for the heritage-led Treadmills scheme.

The ambitious plans, which will create around 200 jobs, are the culmination of extensive work over the past four years in preparation for Northallerton’s most significant regeneration scheme for decades.

The proposals have been refined to respond to feedback received during a comprehensive public and stakeholder engagement process, including consultation with Hambleton District Council, North Yorkshire County Council’s Highways department, Historic England and Northallerton Town Council.

Two public consultation events were also held in June 2018, attended by around 450 people, at which 65 per cent of people who completed feedback forms said they supported the scheme.

The plans for the £17m Treadmills scheme set out a comprehensive redevelopment of the 3.5-acre site, including a mix of retail units, offices, cafés and restaurants, a cinema, apartments and car parking. The focal point of the development will be a newly-created civic square and performance space. The scheme also includes Northallerton’s first 'changing places' fully accessible toilet facility.

The project promises sensitive conversion of the site’s five remaining listed former prison buildings to form offices, apartments, shops, cafés and restaurants, as well as a heritage centre displaying memorabilia and archives from the jail.

There will also be a four-screen cinema, above three new restaurant units, a Lidl store, and the creation of a new public square in the courtyard formed by the former prison buildings and cinema.

The application said: “The development proposals will deliver major, transformational change to this area of Northallerton. This heritage-led scheme will redevelop a vacant local landmark and deliver a mix of uses, to the benefit of the local community and economy.”

The prison buildings to be incorporated within the development are the former Staff Tenement Block, Governor’s House, 1818 Female Wing, 1852 Female Wing and Link Building. Conversion of these buildings will respect their history and heritage and key period features such as the cell windows will be retained.

The application says the scheme will “renovate, repair and sensitively convert the original prison buildings and bring vacant heritage assets back into active and beneficial use”. It adds that the proposed new buildings within the scheme have been carefully designed to “respect the form, scale and materials” of the retained listed buildings.

Wykeland Development Director Jonathan Stubbs said: “A huge amount of work has gone into developing the vision for Treadmills and translating that into this detailed planning application.

“We’ve worked very closely with Historic England to ensure these plans pay full respect to the unique history and heritage of Northallerton Prison while also setting out exciting proposals for the future of this key strategic site.

“This scheme has been designed to extend and enhance the town centre and bring new vibrancy to Northallerton, including through a stronger and more dynamic evening economy. It will also create a new, high-quality destination and public space, strongly linked to the commercial heart of the town.

“Treadmills will provide new investment, facilities and jobs to complement existing provision in Northallerton and ensure the continued economic growth and prosperity of the town for years to come.”