A 16th century North Yorkshire country house and former public school is set to be converted into luxury retirement apartments.
Plans for the redevelopment of Grade I listed Gilling Castle, between Thirsk and Malton, will go before councillors next week.
Officers have recommended that members of North Yorkshire Council’s strategic planning committee approve the proposals for 21 ‘later living’ apartments in the main building, with a further 14 built in the grounds.
Modern classrooms and an artificial grass sports pitch would be demolished as part of the development, with a wellness centre created from the former sports hall.
The castle lies within the Howardian Hills National Landscape and an objection has been submitted by the manager of the scheme to the new-build apartments in the grounds, with the Garden Trust also objecting to this aspect of the scheme.
Sport England has submitted an objection due to the loss of playing pitches.
The scheme has the support of Historic England however, which said it was “very supportive of the new use in principle as it is eminently compatible with the heritage significance of the site”.
Documents submitted with the planning application reveal plans for 24-hour staffing and leisure and social facilities, including a dining room in the Long Gallery, and landscaped gardens.
Recommending approval of the development, North Yorkshire Council case officer Alan Goforth said there were “clear benefits” of the redevelopment with the most significant being the long-term preservation of the caste and surrounding park and garden.
He added: “Further benefits include the re-use of previously developed land and buildings; provision of specialist accommodation for an ageing population and enhanced recreational amenities for on-site occupants and the local community.”
He said the scheme would also create local employment and allow public access to principal rooms in the castle.
The property was built by the High Sheriff of Yorkshire Sir William Fairfax in 1571 on top of the medieval walls of an earlier fortified house.
At the beginning of the 18th century, Viscount Fairfax of Emley remodelled the interior of the house and added wings enclosing the front court..
In the 20th century, the house was used by Ampleforth College as a pre-school with a new wing fitted out with Robert ‘Mouseman’ Thompson furniture, fixtures and fittings.
The school closed in 2018.
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