AMBITIOUS plans to create the Regional Agricultural Centre for the North are close to fruition with news that the Yorkshire Agricultural Society (YAS) has appointed the building contractors after a competitive tendering process.
Houseman and Falshaw of Harrogate will begin work next month on the £5.1m project at the Great Yorkshire Showground, Harrogate.
The development will see the creation of a prestigious suite of offices, a cafe and shop which will promote and sell re
gional produce. The YAS is the first agricultural society in the UK to develop such an initiative.
Heather Parry, the society's deputy chief executive, said: "We are delighted to announce Houseman & Falshaw as our appointed contractors as their tender showed a real commitment to create a top quality building which is architecturally innovative and environmentally cutting edge."
Houseman and Falshaw managing director Stuart Falshaw said: "We have a long working relationship with the YAS and are extremely pleased to have been chosen for this fascinating and complex development which will include a variety of special features to make it sustainable and to minimise impact on the environment. It will be a state-of-the-art project for the organisation that leads the way in agriculture in Yorkshire."
A registered charity, the society is best known as the organiser of the Great Yorkshire Show and Countryside Live. It is anticipated that construction will take about 11 months.
Because of the building's position, neither of the shows, nor the many events which take place year round on the showground will be affected.
Over the last decade the society has spent more than £12m upgrading the 250-acre site which is the venue for a wide range of events – from the Yorkshire International Business Convention to private weddings. Once the project is complete, the society's office staff will re-locate to the new building along with other not-for-profit rural organisations.
The shop will promote locally sourced food as a priority, providing an extra outlet for local farmers and producers as well as additional choice of good quality local fare for consumers.
The cafe design will enable cookery demonstrations and food launches to be staged, further highlighting the important role played in food production by farmers – a key objective of the society. All profits made will be ploughed back into supporting agriculture in the region.
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