Impala Estates
CRESCENT GARDENS
HARROGATE
Impala Estates Limited are delighted to announce the unanimous approval of Planning Permission by Harrogate Borough Council on 10 May 2022. This was subject to a number of conditions, and we now look forward to agreeing those with the Planning Officers before work commences on the building.
Crescent Gardens was purchased by Impala Estates Limited on 10th January 2020
We look to bring the building back to its former glory and refurbish these offices to a modern standard for multiple occupancy.
Crescent Gardens will be refurbished to create office space on flexible lease terms, with meeting rooms, kitchens, showers and event spaces.
PROJECT UPDATES
10th May 2022
Impala Estates Limited are delighted to announce the unanimous approval of Planning Permission by Harrogate Borough Council on 10 May 2022. This was subject to a number of conditions, and we now look forward to agreeing those with the Planning Officers before work commences on the building.
1st April 2021
Plans have been lodged for the refurbishment and extension of Crescent Gardens, the former Harrogate Council Municipal Offices to create multi let office space and roof garden restaurant.
Our proposals are to refurbish the building up to an energy efficient standard for use as offices for multiple occupancy. These will incorporate meeting rooms, gym, shower facilities and a roof garden restaurant.
The meeting rooms will include the spaces previously used as the Council Chamber and Mayor's Parlour, which, together with the restaurant, will be available for use by the public.
The structure of the building was originally designed for more than the two floor levels currently in place, so our plans incorporate a further two levels, set back from the front and rear elevations, in a contemporary design.
We have been working collaboratively with a strong local consultant base with a view to delivering high quality market leading design solutions.
Our aim is to bring the building back into use by developing it in a sensitive way that fits in with the diverse architecture in the surrounding area. We hope to create flexible office and public space in a central part of town.
Impala Estates Limited acquired the Former Council Offices from Harrogate Borough Council in January 2020. Following their public consultation in October a full planning application to create multi let office space as well as roof top restaurant, bringing the building back into use has now been submitted.
Their proposals are to refurbish the building up to an energy efficient standard for use as offices for multiple occupancy. These will incorporate meeting rooms, gym and shower facilities and a roof garden restaurant. The meeting rooms will include the spaces previously used as the Council Chamber and Mayors Parlour, which, together with the roof top restaurant, will be available for use by the public.
James Hartley from Impala Estates said “I am hugely excited to submit a planning application after what has been a tough year for everybody. I am extremely proud of what is proposed and very excited to hopefully be granted the scheme we have sympathetically designed.
Our plans will ensure that this high-quality local asset is brought back to use and regenerated to deliver a building that provides not only employment space in the town centre but contributes to a community benefit that keeps Crescent Gardens as a vibrant part of Harrogate”
Graham Swift, Cabinet Member for Economic Development at HBC said: “When HBC sold Crescent Gardens to Impala Estates, we were impressed by their commitment to bring much needed office space into the centre of town to support the growing and changing economic needs of Harrogate. They blended this plan with the use of public space that will make Crescent Gardens and its locality a thriving, community area that boasts flexible, modern offices with functional and attractive public spaces.”
12th October 2020
We have been working with local architects, planning consultants, structural engineers and others to develop a scheme to bring the building back into use. We are nearly in a position to submit our planning application, but before we do, we would like to seek the views of local residents and businesses, in order to take into account any particular concerns that you may have.
In normal circumstances, we would arrange a public meeting to present our plans, but unfortunately this cannot be done given the restrictions on gatherings. As a result, we have uploaded plans, elevations and drawings of what the building will look like onto a web page which can be accessed by visiting www.crescentgardens.co.uk
In summary, we plan to refurbish the building up to an energy efficient standard for use as offices for multiple occupancy. These will incorporate meeting rooms, gym and shower facilities and a roof garden restaurant. The meeting rooms will incorporate the spaces previously used as the Council Chamber and Mayor's Parlour, which, together with the restaurant, will be available for use by the public. The structure of the building was originally designed for more than the two floor levels currently in place, so our plans incorporate a further two levels, set back from the front and rear elevations, in a contemporary design.
25th August 2020
Impala Estates, architects, planning consultants and structural engineers are working safely and remotely in these uncertain times allowing progress to be made on a formal planning application.
Following the completion of the removal of the asbestos from the property in May, we are now progressing with the soft strip of the fittings within building. This work should be completed during September.
We continue to wait for Harrogate Borough Council to confirm whether we need planning permission for the upgrading of the windows, which once known, will allow us to progress with the planning application.
We are working with Northern Powergrid to rehouse the electricity substation, which is currently within the building, and we will incorporate this within our designs.
26th May 2020
Since our last update report in March, progress has been slow following the introduction of restrictions on safe distancing and working. Notwithstanding this, some progress has been made.
We have completed the cleaning of the front and gable ends of the building and are now in the process of engaging stonemasons to repoint the worst affected areas.
The removal of the asbestos from the property is nearing completion and we hope to have this finished leaving an asbestos free building by the end of May.
A new yew hedge has been planted around the west garden along with minor works to landscaping and shrub removal following consultation with Harrogate BC Parks and Environmental Department.
The majority of the drains on the property have been jetted and cleaned but this identified some blocked drains requiring further attention. A CCTV drainage survey identified root ingress and plans are in place to gain access to these areas in order to clear these blockages.
Impala Estates Limited continue to work with architects, structural engineers and other advisors within the constraints of working remotely with a view to submitting a planning application later this year.
17th March 2020
Prior to our tender for the purchase of the property, we submitted a pre-application planning enquiry to Harrogate Borough Council setting out our plans. This was favourably received.
We propose continuing the use of the building as offices, and also provide ancillary services such as a gym, changing rooms and restaurant facilities. A sensitively designed additional storey is proposed together with the reuse of residential staff accommodation which previously existed in the building. In addition, our proposals include keeping the original Council Chamber available as a community event space.
We are in the process of completing our plans and hope to be in a position to submit a formal planning application later this year.
In order to do this, we have appointed architects, planning consultants and structural engineers to identify what can be done to sensitively reconfigure the current floor plans into a space suitable for modern office use. The important civic architecture and heritage value of the entrance hall, main staircase, council chamber and mayor’s parlour ensure that we will retain these areas in their current form.
Currently we plan to offer office space to meet a range of requirements, from shared co-working space for small firms to larger leased office accommodation with dedicated services for established businesses. We have been encouraged by the interest in leasing office space expressed so far.
You may have noticed people working in the building. We have been busy completing the following tasks:
Making the building wind and watertight
Drain cleaning
Recommissioning the lift
Undertaking topographical and structural surveys
Removal of redundant equipment
We are currently using a firm of contractors to remove the asbestos in the building in order to enable further internal survey works to be undertaken.
Plans are also in place, following consultation with Harrogate BC Planning Department, to clean the outside of the building.
The work we are currently having done does not require grants of planning permission, but we will be holding consultation events in advance of the submission of our planning application to ask for public views on our plans.
Impala Estates and our advisors are locally based and are familiar with the public interest in Crescent Gardens and its reuse. We intend to work with the Council, the public and local interest groups to ensure a process and end result which the district at large can be happy with.
13th January 2020
Impala Estates, a family owned property investment business, has purchased Crescent Gardens in Harrogate, in a £4million deal secured by property firm Sanderson Weatherall.
The unconditional sale, which includes the building and parking on the road directly opposite (locally known as ‘The Shelf’), follows a marketing and sales campaign that generated significant national interest.
All bids received were carefully considered and assessed against specific criteria including deliverability, preservation of a local asset, as well as the growing demand for office space in the town.
Impala Estates, a business with a growing portfolio of commercial and industrial property, plans to develop the building into a multi-let office space.
Councillor Graham Swift, Harrogate Borough Council’s deputy leader and cabinet member for resources, enterprise and economic development, said: “The proposed plans will ensure that this high-quality local asset is regenerated to deliver a building that provides much needed office space in the town centre and provide community benefits that keeps Crescent Gardens as a vibrant addition to Harrogate town.”
“Although the sale process has appeared lengthy, I am delighted that the sale has now been fully completed and I look forward to working with Impala Estates and our planning teams to ensure the development is implemented successfully.”
At this stage, no timescales have been set for the refurbishment but a planning application is due to be submitted this year.
James Hartley, from Impala Estates, said: “Plans are in place to bring the building back to its former glory and refurbish these offices to a modern standard for multiple occupancy. We aim to create office space on flexible lease terms, with meeting rooms, kitchens, showers and gym facilities. The space will range from fully serviced shared workspace for small businesses and start-ups, to larger offices available on an exclusive use basis.”
Richard Dunn, head of agency at Sanderson Weatherall, added: “We are pleased to have secured Impala Estates as the purchaser of Crescent Gardens, on behalf of Harrogate Borough Council. The sale of this iconic property has attracted a great deal of interest from property companies and developers, as well as the local community who are keen to see the building be brought back to life.
Impala Estates has a long-term interest and vision for Crescent Gardens, and it will be exciting to see their plans come to fruition.”
The sale of Crescent Gardens, and the proposed plans to create much needed office space in the town centre, supports the council’s town centre masterplan. This document sets out the vision for the future of the town which will encourage investment and ensure Harrogate's economic prosperity.
If you are interested in any particular aspect of the property refurbishment, we are more than happy to answer your questions. Please email info@crescentgardens.co.uk for more information.
