The Scarborough Buildings North Yorkshire Council Could Buy and Sell

As North Yorkshire Council prepares for a significant reshuffle of its property portfolio, the future of several prominent buildings in Scarborough and Malton hangs in the balance. But what state are the buildings really in?

The Council’s Executive is set to consider a plan to vacate and repurpose historic but "underutilised, outdated and inefficient" assets following the proposed acquisition of Resolution House at Eastfield from Anglo American. This move, described as a cornerstone of the 2025-2035 Corporate Property Strategy, aims to modernise the council’s working environment while addressing a multi-million-pound maintenance crisis.

The Heritage Weight of Scarborough Town Hall

Perhaps the most iconic building in the review is Scarborough Town Hall, a Grade II listed heritage asset that has long defined the town’s South Bay skyline. Despite its prominent position and historic significance, the building has become a major challenge for the local authority. A 1960s office block, which makes up over 80% of the site’s total accommodation, has officially reached the end of its useful life and was vacated in 2025 due to safety and compliance concerns.

The council reports that the historic part of the building presents "substantial constraints" that limit its effectiveness for modern office work. Staff have frequently identified issues with the workspace, and desk utilisation currently fluctuates between a mere 14% on Fridays and 42% mid-week. Maintaining this site is a costly endeavour, with net annual running costs reaching £474,000, and a high-level assessment suggests that a full refurbishment to a reasonable standard would require an investment of £15 million to £19 million.

Town Centre "White Elephants" and Failed Ambitions

In the heart of Scarborough town centre, the former Comet building and Pavilion House stand as reminders of previously stalled regeneration efforts. These properties were originally acquired to support the "Scarborough Station Gateway" project, with plans to create shared public sector offices. However, those ambitions were tied to an unsuccessful Levelling Up Fund bid, leaving substantial areas of both buildings vacant.

The current state of these assets is assessed as "poor". According to council estimates, transforming Pavilion House into functional office space would require between £7 million and £12 million. While these sites remain underutilised, they currently incur combined annual running costs of nearly £100,000.

The Malton Hubs and Residential Potential

The review also extends to Malton, where Ryedale House serves as a customer service centre for around 100 residents each week. Similar to the Scarborough assets, Ryedale House is in poor condition, with running costs of £290,000 per year and an average desk occupancy of only 35%. While a recent detailed maintenance assessment is missing, refurbishment is expected to cost several million pounds. Interestingly, the site is already allocated for housing, with a capacity for 60 dwellings, offering a potential redevelopment opportunity.

In contrast, Stanley Harrison House, located near the Malton railway station, is in "satisfactory" condition. Though largely vacant at present, it costs only £7,000 a year to run and is being eyed as a potential future headquarters for public sector partners or a local customer hub.

A Strategy for Rationalisation

Across the entire estate included in the review, North Yorkshire Council currently manages over 21,000 square metres of space with an annual running cost of approximately £1 million. On any given day, more than 250 desks remain empty, with an average overall utilisation rate of 47%.

The Council’s Outline Business Case suggests that by consolidating services and moving away from these high-maintenance buildings, they could reduce annual running costs by at least £400,000 and avoid over £20 million in backlog maintenance liabilities.

Below is an outline of the current proposals for each building as detailed by the Council:

Balancing Efficiency and Local Footfall

While the financial case for the move appears strong—with a projected payback period of less than ten years—the Council acknowledges the potential impact on town centre vitality. There is a recognised risk that prominent sites like the Town Hall could become "underutilised for a prolonged period," which the council states "must be avoided".

To mitigate this, officials recommend progressing redevelopment "at pace" and creating a masterplan for Scarborough’s South Bay. By keeping customer-facing services at Castle House and potentially repurposing vacated sites for leisure or housing, the Council hopes to ensure that the move to the edge-of-town Resolution House does not hollow out the high street.