A NEW village hall will be built in Kirk Deighton after planning permission was granted last week.
The new hall will be built to the north of the existing village community centre, which will be demolished to make way for two houses.
The plans were passed unanimously by Harrogate Borough Council’s planning committee.
Coun Bob Nash said: “It’
s a tremendous achievement to replace something that’s very delapidated and not fit for purpose.
“I’m delighted. Everybody’s behind it and I think it’s a wonderful scheme. They’ve got two residential properties which are going to go up and cover the cost of the new building.
“That’s what it’s all about - it will make a nice community facility.”
The two houses will each have four bedrooms and will be accessed via a driveway partly shared with the new village hall.
Although the site falls outside the conservation area, planners said the design of the houses reflected those in the conservation area and would therefore be in keeping with the village.
Meanwhile, the new village hall will be single storey with a main hall, kitchen, meeting room, toilets and store, built in brick with a blue slate roof.
The conservation area appraisal describes the current hall as “a monolithic building that fails to reflect local distinctiveness. A long term aim should be to redevelop this site for a more appropriately designed facility."
Planners said work on the new village hall must begin by March 2013 and the new building must be screened by suitable shrubs and trees.
