54 | Tees Business
PICTURES BY MARTIN WALKER
Street
Life
By Martin Walker
‘Spectacular’ new high street shopping
arcade edges closer to fruition
A
“spectacular” new shopping arcade
near the heart of a busy high street is
edging closer to reality.
Tees property specialists Mandale are
planning to invest £1m to create the new
development just off Northallerton High
Street.
Although the site lies within a conservation
area – and the development involves a
Grade II-listed building as well as two other
buildings of local interest – Mandale have
carefully planned an application which is
sympathetic towards the North Yorkshire
town’s heritage.
The proposals for Regency Mews, in
between the high street and Tesco, will
rejuvenate several vacant retail shops and
create modern new residential apartments.
And an alleyway which has been
considered an eyesore by both the council
and locals will also be vastly improved.
Mandale, who have been at the heart of
a series of Grade A commercial property
refurbishments across the North-East and
beyond, plan to create a unique, continental-
style arcade with a mix of retailers, coffee
shops and bistros.
The Stockton-based firm’s property
specialist Joe Darragh told Tees Business:
“We see huge potential in this site and we
think the new development will complement
the existing buildings, while giving some of
its rundown units a much-needed boost.”
Mandale have submitted a planning
proposal to Hambleton District Council, and a
planning and heritage statement has already
given the thumbs up.
“Where the historic plot layouts exist,
it will be beneficial to the character of
the designated conservation area to both
preserve and enhance their legibility through
new development,” says the report.
“It is clear the development proposals will
accord with all of the relevant development
plan policies, and there are no material
considerations that indicate planning
permission should be restricted.”
The high street area boasts a number of
national brands including Costa Coffee,
Pizza Express, New Look and
Waterstones, as well as local
independent names such as
Betty’s tearooms, Lewis
& Cooper and Barker’s
department store.
But Darragh added:
“Northallerton has a won a
reputation as a lovely place
to live and visit, but last
time I counted there were
12 shops vacant on the high
street. Twenty years ago that was
unheard of.
“Unfortunately, M&S and Morrisons are
among those who’ve pulled out, but we’ve
always been big fans of Northallerton and
we’re keen to invest money into it and create
a real feature.
“We feel the high street looks a little bit
unloved at the moment, so the new shopping
arcade would give it a real boost.
“It will be spectacular when it’s complete.
We’re going to create something very special
that we’re confident business owners,
residents and visitors will all love.”
If planning permission is granted, it’s hoped
the development will be completed by early
2019.