The conversion of a North Yorkshire army reserve centre into a business park has been officially approved by the council.
The former Territorial Army Reserve Centre on Coldyhill Lane in Newby, near Scarborough, has been given part-retrospective approval for the change of use of the site to a business park.
The reserve centre ceased operations in 2023 when the Ministry of Defence (MoD) deemed the facility to be “surplus to requirements”, and the site was subsequently sold.
The business park will provide several meeting rooms for hire, enabling tenants and other businesses to provide a suitable environment for meetings with clients and stakeholders, according to plans which were submitted last year.
The change of use will allow for uses including yoga, pilates and fitness classes serving the wider community, and can include small businesses specialising in podiatry, nails and beauty.
Some units have already been occupied as a children’s play day centre, office space and by a hairdresser and a dog groomer.
The existing access and parking areas to the site have been retained, and the parking area will include 36 spaces in the larger parking area to the rear of the building, 10 spaces to the front of the building and four disabled/accessible bays.
No objections were made by Newby and Scalby Town Council or the Highway Authority.
Planners noted that the site is located “firmly within Scarborough urban area, located on a main road which has good transport links to the town centre, as well as being within walking distance to nearby public transport routes”.
Officers said the scheme, which does not include substantial internal or external alterations, was acceptable in terms of its impact on amenity.
However, the development includes the installation of a series of disabled ramps located to the frontage of the building, one to the side and one to the rear.
“These are modest additions to the building in terms of their size and scale, and utilise suitable materials which are in keeping with the existing building,” according to a planning report.
The proposal was approved by North Yorkshire Council, subject to conditions.
By: Anttoni James Numminen, LDRS
