New National Park headquarters and ranger depot planned for Helmsley
Our requirements for office space have changed significantly over recent years. The Old Vicarage is now much bigger than we need and this and the Authority’s other site – the Ranger depot on Sawmill Lane - both require substantial investment to make them fit for modern working and to reduce our carbon emissions.
We are keen to stay in Helmsley, providing employment opportunities and spending money locally, so it’s our intention to build a new combined office and Ranger depot on land that is designated for employment use in the Helmsley Plan.
In 2023, the National Park Authority acquired a site at the end of Riccal Drive to fulfil this intention and to meet the needs of the organisation now and into the future. We intend to apply for planning permission in summer 2024.
The National Park Authority is grateful for all the feedback it’s received so far. We are keen to make the best use of this development for the community of Helmsley and we are listening carefully to all comments and suggestions.
Development summary
- High quality office accommodation, fit for modern hybrid working
- Functional garaging, workshop and storage facilities for National Park Rangers
- Use of high-quality natural materials, including local stone and timber cladding
- A ground floor room for public meetings
- On site parking for staff and visitors
- Secure and covered cycle parking for staff and visitors
Community benefits
- Improvements to the landscaping of the site, increasing biodiversity and benefitting nature
- Creation of a well-surfaced path from Riccal Drive to Station Road linking pedestrian routes within Helmsley
- Refurbishment and creative re-use of the existing dilapidated but beautiful Helmsley Station Signal Box. We’d love to hear your suggestions for this!
- Refurbishment and re-purposing of the existing Old Vicarage building to provide opportunity for additional housing within Helmsley (Subject to separate development proposals)
- Relocation of staff vehicles away from residential streets onto purpose built car parks
Green credentials
- Design based of Passivehaus principles
- Solar panels to provide energy generation on site
- Surface water (grey water) recycled for washing vehicles and watering vegetation
- High-performance glazing and high levels of thermal insulation
- Materials will be selected based on their locality, recycled content and durability
- Electric vehicle charging facilities for cars, fleet vehicles and bicycles.
Please see the latest updates below. You can contact us with any questions at general@northyorkmoors.org.uk