SHOWGROUND’S GREEN LIGHT FOR £10m NEW EXHIBITION HALL
Celebrations have begun at the Great Yorkshire Showground with news that planning permission has been granted for a new £10m exhibition hall. The hall will replace the existing building which has outlived its useful life.
(NB: Images and captions available at the bottom of the release)
Commenting, Heather Parry, Deputy Chief Executive of the Yorkshire Agricultural Society said: “We are absolutely thrilled with Harrogate Borough Council’s endorsement of our vision. This will be the largest single project the Society has ever undertaken and is a real investment into the future of Harrogate to help it become the finest events town in the country.” The plans were approved yesterday (Tuesday 24 June) by the Councils planning committee.
“Now the real work begins,” said Miss Parry, “We will start working up the details of the scheme, from lighting schedules to designing the kitchen and everything in between! However, the earliest construction could begin would be next July, after the 2015 Great Yorkshire Show.”
The showground is already a key venue year round for conferences, exhibitions and private functions, putting around £47m back into the region’s economy each year.
“Harrogate is a great events destination and this project will help broaden its appeal. We already work closely with the team at Harrogate International Centre and the Harrogate Chamber of Trade and Commerce has been extremely supportive, all of which contributes to the town’s reputation for excellence and versatility as a venue,” added Miss Parry.
Under its trading arm, Yorkshire Event Centre, The Great Yorkshire Showground has 5,372m² of lettable event space in the current Hall 1 and adjacent Hall 2 which will now increase to 6,270m².
Said Miss Parry: “Hall 1 was originally constructed in the 1960s and expected to last for 20 years so it has been a good Yorkshire investment! Unfortunately it is now deteriorating so we need to replace it. Today’s visitors expect higher standards and better facilities than those of 50 years ago so we are adding a large foyer area, a café and improved toilet facilities.”
Simon Kent, director of Harrogate International Centre welcomed the planning committee’s decision and said the new hall was a huge boost for Harrogate’s reputation as a leading UK event location.
“A facility like this is another string in the bow of Yorkshire Event Centre’s facilities and strengthens Harrogate’s position as a versatile events town. With the backing of Visit Harrogate, YEC and HIC can continue to complement each other to attract more business to the town and further boost Harrogate’s economy.”
The building has been designed by P+HS Architects, who also designed the Society’s headquarters, the Regional Agricultural Centre and its award winning shop and café, Fodder. The company is based in Stokesley, North Yorkshire.
ENDS
25 June 2014
Media contact: Judy Thompson, PR Manager 01423 546215 or judyt@yas.co.uk
Editors Notes re Great Yorkshire Showground
Purchase of the showground from Harrogate Corporation 1949
First Great Yorkshire Show to be held there 1951
- prior to that the Great Yorkshire was held in various venues around the region
- it was the first agricultural show in the UK to have its own site
Amount paid for 200 acres which formed the nucleus of the existing site £16,500
Cost of building the Regional Agricultural Centre & Fodder in 2009 £3.6m
Cost of staging the annual Great Yorkshire Show £3m
YORKSHIRE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY:
The Yorkshire Agricultural Society was formed in 1837 and is a charity dedicated to supporting the farming industry and rural life. This ranges from educational initiatives to the Society’s Nuffield Scholarships to hosting the Yorkshire Rural Support Network. The Society is based at the Regional Agricultural Centre, Harrogate; the RAC includes Fodder, the Society’s award winning regional food shop and café which opened in June 2009.
The Society is the organiser of the annual farming and country showcase, the Great Yorkshire Show and its sister event, Countryside Live. Both take place at the Great Yorkshire Showground, Harrogate, North Yorkshire and are flagship events for agriculture and rural life. Dates for the 2014 Great Yorkshire Show are Tuesday 8 – Thursday 10 July, and Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 October for Countryside Live. See www.greatyorkshireshow.co.uk for more information.
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