PLANS have been unveiled to build a large-scale business park featuring more than 14 Olympic-sized swimming pools of floor space, despite concerns demand for some commercial buildings will decline as a result of the pandemic.

Beckwith Knowle Developments is seeking planning permission from Hambleton District Council for the estate on 5.7 hectares of fields used for sheep grazing off Darlington Road, Northallerton, at the county town’s northern gateway and close to the 900-home North Northallerton estate being constructed.

The firm hopes to build 21,000 sq ft of trade counter space and a 3,777sq ft drive-thru restaurant to enable it to also build a petrol station and convenience store, a drive-thru cafe, 15,000 sq ft of offices and industrial units of up to 178,000 sq ft.

Documents submitted with the application do not provide an estimate of the number of jobs which could follow the completion of the development, but the documents do reveal an ambition to create more than 400 car parking spaces alongside the buildings.

The plans have been lodged just weeks after the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors released a report stating the UK commercial property market was in a downturn, with vacant retail and office spaces rising sharply.

However, it found the demand for industrial space was more promising due to booming online shopping.

In papers submitted to the council, the developers said the retail and restaurant elements of the proposal were needed to fund infrastructure to bring forward the wider site for employment uses.

The developers said the scheme would result in a series of economic and social benefits for Northallerton including extra construction jobs and the creation of new jobs once the development was completed.

In the planning papers the developers claim the proposed estate would also”safeguard more environmentally sensitive sites from development”.

They state: “From an environmental perspective the proposed new development will be high quality and enhance the character of the area. It would not have a detrimental impact on any international, national, or local ecological, environmental or heritage interests.

“The delivery of the site for a mixed of uses will fulfil a social role by supporting the strong, vibrant and healthy community of Northallerton and assist in providing the employment space required to meet the needs of present and future generations.” In pre-application advice, the council said the scheme would “not have a significant impact upon the immediate surroundings given the nature of development proposed and is not within a significant environmentally sensitive location”.

The authority has also stated that the development is unlikely to have any significant effect on nearby residents.

The council’s leader Councillor Mark Robson welcomed the prospect of new jobs and businesses being created at a time of considerable economic uncertainty.

He said if the development secured planning permission it would act as a further boost to the county town, which will receive £6m from the Government to revamp the central shopping area. Cllr Robson said: “Despite the situation created by Covid, people are still coming forward and wanting to think for the future and get developing. If the applicants are willing to come forward and put the application in, they must be confident we can all pull through. If at any time there is concern that these things can’t be delivered because of the evolving world then we would review the plans.”