A LOCAL contractor has taken over work on a major town centre redevelopment, including restaurants and a new multi screen cinema, to ensure it is finished.
Moody Construction has taken over the final phase of Northallerton’s £17m Treadmills development, after former contractors PDR Construction went into administration. Work ground to a halt over Christmas but Hambleton District Council which set up the Northallerton Development Company with Yorkshire based Wykeland Group has now announced work is restarting.
Family owned Moody construction which is based in Northallerton are now working on completing the upmarket Everyman Cinema, three new buiild restaurants and works on site including a showpiece civic square.
The Development company say it means the regeneration scheme which is on the site of the town's historic prison will be completed as planned by autumn, a few weeks after it was originally supposed to be finished.
Jonathan Stubbs, Development Director of Wykeland and a member of the development company board, said: “We’re pleased we have been able to put in place a rapid, but also rigorous, process to review progress, consider options for a new contractor and, finally, to appoint Moody Construction.
“This has ensured we now have in place a new contractor with the capability and capacity to ensure a seamless transition and complete the project, while ensuring value for money.
“Moody Construction has mobilised its existing supply chain and also re-engaged a number of sub-contractors who were working on site before the construction pause. The resumption of works within a short period of time will minimise the impact on the build programme.
"Everyman is one of the UK’s leading independent cinema groups and is renowned for its destination venues where filmgoers enjoy a luxurious experience, with drinks and freshly-made pizza served to their seats. The 11,000 sq ft Northallerton cinema will have four screens, with a total of 276 seats, as well as its own restaurant and licensed bar."
Councillor Mark Robson, Leader of Hambleton District Council, added: “We are delighted to welcome Moody Construction back on to site, not only are they a Northallerton based business but they have already worked with us, successfully delivering the external restoration and extensive internal redevelopment and modernisation of the Grade II listed buildings on the Treadmills site.
“Work has only been delayed by a few weeks and we look forward to seeing the new cinema opening to the public. The council is committed to delivering a first class offer at the old prison site, all the current retail units are now occupied, businesses are joining C4DI and students will be on the campus site the spring. The creation of the cinema clearly demonstrates this council’s ambition to developing and enhancing our market town. It’s a very exciting time.”
Previous work by Moody construction was on creating the Centre for Digital Innovation Northallerton tech hub, a digital education “eCampus”, with the University of Sunderland and York College, offices and other facilities.
James Moody, Construction Director said: “Following the successful completion of the challenging restoration and conversion of the listed buildings, we are delighted to be part of the Treadmills development team again.
“We have been based in Northallerton since our company was founded over 100 years ago and the majority of Moody Construction staff live locally, so there has been a commitment from our pre-construction team to minimise disruption and expedite the complex and rigorous negotiations with a view to seeing progress on site resume as quickly as possible.
“Our project management staff and on-site personnel will now maintain momentum, working with our valued supply chain to complete the fantastic recreational facility to benefit future generations.”
The transformation of the former prison buildings has so far seen the building of three new stores including Lidl, and a 126-space car park.
The £17m scheme won the Game Changer Award in the Yorkshire Property Awards 2021 and the Public-Private Collaboration of the Year award in the Insider Yorkshire Property Industry Awards 2021.
It has been supported by York & North Yorkshire Local Enterprise Partnership with £1.8m from the Government’s Local Growth Fund for the redevelopment and fit-out of C4DI and a further £725,000 from the Government’s Getting Building Fund for the eCampus. The final phase of the project is being part-funded with £4.75m from the Government.
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