Thirsk

Gillings court was built in 1980s and provided 42 sheltered age-restricted housing units until 2019 when operator Broadacres made the decision to close the site owing to the building being considered surplus to requirements because of the building’s age, design and condition. A soft closure strategy was undertaken and the building finally ceased operation in July 2024, leaving the building vacant and unused for over a year.

Churchill’s vision is to make a significant investment to bring this long-term vacant brownfield site back into beneficial use for an independent retirement living community. The proposal is for a high-quality three storey apartment building of 29x one-bedroom and 16x two-bedroom apartments. As well as provision for 15 parking spaces.

The building currently presents a visual intrusion in the otherwise well-presented landscape of the Thirsk and Sowerby Conservation Area, this is due to the 80s style architectural design and more recently boarded up windows to prevent vandalism to the building whilst it is sat vacant.

Given the prominence of the site, Churchill Living has proposed a design which seeks  to reflect local architecture with a traditional design utilising locally prevalent materials such as multi brick, buff brick as well as areas of white painted brick. Roofs will be provided as a mixture of red clay tiles, or natural slate tiles.  The design also incorporates black painted metal Juliette balconies to further enhance the onsite private amenity. The overall design approach seeks to break up the massing of the apartments with the proposed building presenting as a series of townhouses of domestic scale which is architectural detailing commonly found within the Thirsk and Sowerby Conservation Area.

The development also seeks to improve the local street scape, through improved landscaping and a reduced building impact due to careful articulation of the buildings design, as well as improving the relationship with existing neighbouring properties. This is especially important for this site given its prominence within the Thirsk town centre, where direct views can be afforded to site through the many narrow walkways leading off the Market Square. The proposals would also make a significant contribution locally in terms of social, economic and environmental benefits which are discussed in more detail within this website.

This website provides a wide range of information regarding the site and, our plans, plus information about Churchill Living’s retirement communities. You can review this information using the tabs on this website.