Our clients York House Leisure (YHL), who run award-winning retirement and holiday parks across Yorkshire and Scotland, are delighted to announce that plans to build a new retirement village on derelict land near Selby have been unanimously approved by Selby District Council’s planning committee.

The multi-million pound development at Gateforth Park will comprise 168 residential park homes, along with a reception building, shop and meeting area, public and private amenity space and a village green.

The company will transform the 45-acre site of a former mushroom farm into an environmentally-friendly park to include water features, lakes, and other measures aimed at enhancing biodiversity. Facilities in the nearby village of Thorpe Willoughby will also be easily accessible on foot from the Park.

The new retirement village will create four to six operational jobs, with many more during  construction. In line with the sustainable nature of YHL’s plans, during the construction phase the many acres of existing hard standing will be recycled on-site and re-used on the project.

The development will expand YHL’s award-winning portfolio of retirement and holiday parks to six sites across North Yorkshire and Scotland. In recent years the Boroughbridge-based company has made significant investment in its parks, helping to maintain its reputation for high quality holiday and retirement accommodation, whilst achieving a string of accolades, including Sir David Bellamy’s Gold Award for enhancing and protecting the natural environment.

Director of York House Leisure, Phil Brierley, said: “Despite the derelict state of Gateforth Park as a consequence of various acts of vandalism and fly-tipping, we recognised the potential of the site. Its  great location and attractive environment offers us the opportunity to create a very special retirement village, and to really  enhance the surrounding area.

“We are absolutely delighted that our plans for Gateforth Park have been approved and we can’t wait to start work on the site.”

Christopher Harrison, an agricultural and landed estates partner with Andrew Jackson, who led the legal team that advised YHL on its acquisition, said: –

“We are absolutely delighted for our clients that their vision for Gateforth Park can now  become a reality. The site was only attractive to a client who could see beyond its current state and realise the development opportunity for the community of what is a well located and potentially attractive site.

“We wish the team at York House Leisure every success with the development,” he added.