'Enterprise hubs' boost derelict sites – and wider communities

A BID to transform North Yorkshire’s redundant buildings into enterprise hubs was yesterday heralded as key to attracting business in the wake of the recession.

A scheme to develop a former railway station yard in Bedale into a centre for craft businesses is among the projects seen as vital to boosting the county’s economy.

The Craft Yard has been established on the market town’s former station site in a 1.4m scheme to create 10 business units.

The development was completed in 2006, but it has now been fully let for the first time after Hambleton District Council adopted a strict policy of only allowing craft-based enterprise to set up there.

The project is part of the ongoing Renaissance Market Towns initiative, a pioneering 10-year plan to use rural towns as economic development “hubs” to regenerate the wider communities.

Hambleton District Council’s interim economic development and tourism manager, Clair Hewitt, oversaw the scheme to create the Craft Yard.

She said: “The project has been key to attracting new enterprise into the district and helping develop the economy at what is obviously a very difficult time.”

Cash for the Craft Yard scheme came from the regional development agency, Yorkshire Forward, North Yorkshire County Council and Hambleton District Council.

The Wensleydale Railway has also taken on Station House on a long-term lease from the district council to provide a ticket office, waiting room and a caf.

Among the businesses which are based at the Craft Yard is Holme Design Limited, a kitchen, bathroom and bedroom design company run by a husband and wife team, Melanie and Haydn Armsby.

Mrs Armsby said: “Having lived and worked in the area for many years we knew what we were looking for when it came to finding the ideal location for our new showroom – and we found it at the Craft Yard. It was very important to us to continue working in this area and to be in the heart of the community.”

Other developments which have used existing buildings to create new business centres include The Station in neighbouring Richmondshire. A former railway station in Richmond has been given a new lease of life as a small business complex which showcases local produce.

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