THIS IS A PRESS RELEASE FROM WYKELAND GROUP
The first phase of the transformational Treadmills regeneration project has opened to the public, providing a timely boost to the local community and economy in Northallerton.
Supermarket group Lidl – the retail anchor for the £17m scheme – and frozen food specialist Iceland have both opened, with a third 1,300 sq ft store unit available for occupation. The three units benefit from a 126-space car park.
From left, Cllr Malcolm Taylor, Hambleton District Council Portfolio Holder for Projects and Transformation, Jonathan Stubbs of Wykeland Group, council Chief Executive Justin Ives and Wykeland’s Dominic Gibbons in front of the Treadmills development. The first phase of the £17m scheme is now open to the public. Pictures: Nigel Whitfield Photography.
The much-anticipated project is being driven forward by Central Northallerton Development Company Ltd (CNDCL), a joint venture between leading developer Wykeland Group and Hambleton District Council.
It is creating an exciting new future as a mixed-use destination incorporating retail, leisure and co-working office space for the formerly derelict site of Northallerton Prison, which closed in 2013 after housing inmates for 230 years.
The second phase of the scheme, in the central part of the site, is well advanced and involves extensive redevelopment of the five Grade II listed prison buildings.
The former main cell block and the female wing will house the 7,000 sq ft Centre for Digital Innovation (C4DI) Northallerton, creating a new community of tech specialists.
Dominic Gibbons, Wykeland Managing Director and a CNDCL Board member, said: “We’re excited to see this major regeneration project bring this landmark site back to life.
From left, Wykeland Group’s Dominic Gibbons, Cllr Malcolm Taylor and Chief Executive Justin Ives, from Hambleton District Council, and Jonathan Stubbs of Wykeland in front of the Lidl store which has now opened as part of the first phase of the transformational Treadmills development. Pictures: Nigel Whitfield Photography.
“The opening of the first phase of the development, focused on retail, adds greatly to the choice available to shoppers in Northallerton and there is much more to come as we transform the former prison buildings.”
Jonathan Stubbs, Wykeland Developer Director and CNDCL Board member, added: “The next phase is due for completion in March, despite the challenges posed by the pandemic. This will blend old and new – the conservation and restoration of historic buildings and the creation of hi-tech jobs with innovative digital businesses.
“These new facilities and the jobs they will create have never been more important and will be crucial to the economic development and future prosperity of Northallerton.”
C4DI Northallerton will have a specific focus on agritech – the use of technology in agriculture, horticulture and food processing – to help these sectors to develop and grow.
Hambleton District Council Chief Executive Justin Ives, front left, chats with Wykeland Group Managing Director Dominic Gibbons as fellow representatives of the Treadmills joint venture partners tour the former Northallerton Prison female wing. Pictures: Nigel Whitfield Photography.
The hospital block is being renovated to create 1,500 sq ft of offices and meeting rooms with additional breakout areas on the upper floor. The ground floor will offer up to 4,500 sq ft of space for a bar/restaurant to be developed with a selected end user.
The 3,500 sq ft tenement block is also being converted, for potential use as a digital education facility, complementing C4DI, as well as a retail unit.
From past to present: Wykeland Group Managing Director Dominic Gibbons, left, and Hambleton District Council Chief Executive Justin Ives in the tower of the main cell block which is being converted to house the Centre for Digital Innovation (C4DI) Northallerton community of tech specialists.Pictures: Nigel Whitfield Photography.
In addition, the former Governor’s House is being remodelled to accommodate a café operator on the ground floor and mixed uses on the upper floor, creating a total of 3,500 sq ft of new space.
The extensive works involve the retention of as many of original prison features, while creating high-quality, modern office and leisure environments.
The Treadmills project is being supported by the York & North Yorkshire Local Enterprise Partnership, which has secured £1.8m from the Government’s Local Growth Fund for the redevelopment and fit-out of the buildings that will be occupied by C4DI and other office users.
For general information about Treadmills, contact Jonathan Stubbs or Tom Watson at Wykeland on 01482 320968 or e-mail jds@wykeland.co.uk or taw@wykeland.co.uk. For property enquiries contact Adam Mobley of WSB Property on 0113 234 1444 or e-mail amobley@wsbproperty.co.uk.