Craven District Council has awarded a contract to Hellifield company Sutcliffe Construction Ltd, to transform the Council’s former waste depot site at Langcliffe Quarry into a purpose-built rural enterprise centre.

The new development will create over 26,000 square feet of new business space, combining the refurbishment of the old traditional stone buildings together with new buildings to provide modern light industrial and office space. 

One of the buildings will become a business support hub with shared facilities including a training room, meeting rooms, and space for hot-desking, as well as business advice and support for all businesses within the North Craven area.

It is expected that the new development will support around 30 full-time equivalent jobs. The scheme will also support preservation of the historic Hoffman Kiln and wider site through a long-term conservation management plan.

Paul Shevlin, chief executive of Craven District Council, said: “I’m pleased we have appointed a local company for the construction phase of this important project.

“We know there is great demand for more modern, flexible workspace for new and existing smaller businesses in Craven. Providing much-needed additional workspace and high quality jobs in the district is a crucial part of our plans to attract and retain more young people and families to Craven, and ensure that our communities continue to thrive.

“This is a tricky site to develop, but thanks to grant funding we have been able to devise a scheme which benefits the local economy but also protects the future of the Hoffman Kiln.”

James Sutcliffe, managing director of Sutcliffe Construction, said: “We’re delighted to have been awarded the contract for the re-development of the Langcliffe Quarry site, it’s our first major project working with Craven District Council and we’re looking forward to being part of bringing such an important initiative to the area.”

Sutcliffe Construction’s recent projects include a distribution warehouse extension for retail giant Next, which was commended by the Yorkshire Structural Engineering Awards, an innovative new indoor play centre for family leisure attraction Stockeld Park, and an artisan food hall and retail destination for Crimple Hall garden centre in Harrogate.

“Sutcliffe Construction has seen a positive period of recent new contract wins, an encouraging step forward despite the changes the Covid-19 pandemic has brought to the industry and the economy as a whole,” said Mr Sutcliffe.

The project is funded by the European Regional Development Fund as part of the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme 2014 – 2020, and the Government’s Local Growth Fund, through the York and North Yorkshire Local Enterprise Partnership.

The York and North Yorkshire Local Enterprise Partnership has approved Local Growth Funding of £1,645,708 to support the costs of the development.  The ERDF provides match funding for the development as well as a revenue contribution towards the delivery of the business support hub. The ERDF funding total is £1,796,020.  

David Dickson, Chair of the York & North Yorkshire Local Enterprise Partnership Infrastructure and Joint Assets Board, said: “This is an exciting project which will create new jobs, provide new workspaces and regenerate a brownfield site. Schemes like this help drive the region’s economy forward, which is vital as we look to emerge from the pandemic as a greener, fairer and stronger place.”

The Yorkshire Dales National Park’s planning committee approved the scheme at a meeting last year subject to outstanding matters, which were concluded and signed off in January 2021.

Editors Notes:

This Project is funded by the European Regional Development Fund as part of the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme 2014 – 2020 and the Government’s Local Growth Fund through the York, North Yorkshire and East Riding Local Enterprise Partnership.

“Local Growth Fund”

Local Enterprise Partnerships are playing a vital role in driving forward economic growth across the country, helping to build a country that works for everyone. That’s why by 2021 Government will have invested over £12bn through the Local Growth Fund, allowing LEPs to use their local knowledge to get all areas of the country firing on all cylinders.

Some additional key facts:

• There are 38 LEPs covering the whole of England
• The government has awarded £9.1bn in three rounds of Growth Deals to local areas to drive economic growth.
• LEPs are investing in a wide range of projects including transport, skills, business support, broadband, innovation and flood defences.

Northern Powerhouse

Some Northern Powerhouse key facts:

• The Northern Powerhouse is a key aspect of this Government’s approach to addressing the productivity gap in the North and ensuring a stronger, more sustainable economy for all parts of the UK.
• The government has awarded £3.4bn in three rounds of Growth Deals across the Northern Powerhouse.