Partner chosen to head £70m regeneration

1:05pm Friday 9th May 2008

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A multi-million pound project to regenerate parts of Skipton could start by the end of the year.

Craven District Council this week revealed its chosen partner for the £70 million project, which will see hundreds of new homes built at Horse Close and the complete restoration of Skipton Town Hall.

�This is an historic moment for the council and a milestone for the future prosperity and success of Skipton.�

Coun Carl Lis

It will also see the council's cramped offices, which are to be relocated to Gargrave Road, replaced with housing, and the reworking of the much criticised Craven Housing offices at 9 High Street.

At Wednesday's Skipton Area Forum, the council's director of community services, Jonathan Kerr, said all four sections of the Skipton Developments project would be subject to planning permission. But he added that it was hoped work would start by the end of the year on Horse Close and 9 High Street.

Mr Kerr said the council's chosen partner to carry out the developments was Shipley based Accent, a non-for-profit organisation that was originally Bradford Northern.

"Before any work can start, the schemes will have to adhere to planning permission. We have asked for them all to be submitted at the same time," he said.

Mr Kerr pointed out that the development of housing at Horse Close, stretching to the canal, was technically a departure from planning policy and would have to be approved by the Government. He added that the schemes as they stood were not perfect and would change as they passed through the planning process.

"The plans that we have at the moment do not have guaranteed planning permission. When the schemes came in there were elements that we were still unhappy with."

Mr Kerr urged people to make comments to the planning office and to keep track of the developments through Accent's website.

Council leader Coun Carl Lis said yesterday: "This is an historic moment for the council and a milestone for the future prosperity and success of Skipton."

Coun Lis said the council had taken into account the comments of residents over the past four years.

"Their comments and opinions have played a significant part in determining how we go forward," said Coun Lis.

"The proposals put forward by The Accent Group will help maintain Skipton as Yorkshire's premier market town through the creation of new sustainable housing, new retail outlets as well as a contemporary cultural centre. We were especially enthused to hear of Accent's willingness to engage and work with the local community.

Martin Kelly, chief executive of Accent, said: "We have a track record of working in partnership with local councils to deliver projects that really do enhance the lives of people living in the district. As a community investment organisation, Accent recognises that it is essential to work closely with the local community and its representatives to deliver a project that meets local needs and provides a lasting legacy.

"Our philosophy is to engage fully with our stakeholders throughout the project to make sure that the final product is something of which local people can be proud."