Contract wins help Townscape to recruit staff

Ryedale District Council planners last week approved plans for Jack Berry House on Old Malton Road, which will allow the Injured Jockeys Fund to offer fitness and rehabilitation facilities to riders.

Work is expected to start on the new building in October this year, with the new centre expected to open in the autumn of 2014.

Harrogate-based Townscape Architects was also the creative force behind the £1.4m renovation of a 16th century barn, completed at Christian charity Caring For Life’s headquarters on the edge of Cookridge near Leeds in October last year.

The historic building has been given a new lease of life as a restaurant and farm shop, run as a social enterprise.

The combined value of the two contracts to Townscape Architects is around £270,000, said managing director Nick Silcock. “Naturally, we’re thrilled a small practice like ours has been given another chance to show what we can do.

“Designing The Granary for Caring For Life was a good challenge as it meant being creative within the boundaries of all the regulations which apply to a Grade II Listed building.

“With Jack Berry House, it’s a little different as we’re creating a new building but our key priority remains blending state-of-the-art contemporary design with the historic qualities of Malton – a beautiful and traditional Yorkshire market town.”

Mr Silcock said the new contract has allowed Townscape to plan for the future and the practice is currently looking to recruit additional staff. “We now have the solid foundation we need for our expansion,” he said.

“We’ve not done badly over the last couple of years; the housing market may have been flat but more people have been looking to extend their properties rather than move house.”

The company employs three people with recruitment expected to take the headcount to five within the next couple of months.

Mr Silcock founded Townscape Architects just as the economic downturn began in 2007. He said the firm, which currently has a turnover of £110,000, has recorded a 30 per cent year-on-year growth over six successive years.