Sam Smith's brewery gives update on housing and renovation plans for Tadcaster

Samuel Smith's Old Brewery has given an update on its plans in a letter to Tadcaster councillor Kirsty Poskitt, which she read out to a meeting of the town council last week. (Image: Darren Greenwood)

SAMUEL Smith’s Brewery has given an update on its major housing plans for Tadcaster which aim to fund the renovation of empty town centre property amid other improvements.

These were presented in a letter from the brewery which North Yorkshire Councillor for Tadcaster Division, Cllr Kirsty Poskitt, read out to a full meeting of Tadcaster Town Council last week.

Cllr Poskitt said the letter “stated some future changes and intentions from the brewery.”

Plans include a development for 101 homes funding renovations of town centre properties owned by the brewery and re-opening the Vicarage Green to the public.

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Cllr Poskitt has since detailed what was said in the letter in a post on social media.

The Independent councillor says she has an “ongoing good relationship with the brewery and I have always been supportive of the plans they have had for the town.”

Cllr Kirsty Poskitt, who represents the Tadcaster division of North Yorkshire Council

(Image: Facebook)

She said: “The Vicarage Green (near the war memorial) will be opened up to the public, with areas for seating, and potential for small events such as brass band concerts of community picnics.

“The green will also have a pathway through the centre of it that will link the Central Car Park to the Riley Smith [Hall] and other businesses in that area.

“The green will be managed by the committee at the Riley Smith Hall and it’s hoped that eventually a friends of the green type group will be established to look at planting, community gardens, etc.”

Cllr Poskitt commented: “I am thrilled with this initiative and really look forward to having a usable green space in the heart of the town.”

The letter also talked about the empty properties in the town and how the developments that the brewery have put forward, including plans for development on Station Road, will fund the regeneration of empty buildings in the town centre.

Last year, the brewery submitted plans for 101 homes on a 3.46ha site at Station Road at the western edge of the town on what is currently farmland.

The application said the proposals fit with the emerging and adopted development plans and would create 350 jobs during their construction. They also formed “a key component of a package of sites to deliver a positive future and heritage-led regeneration for the town.”

In June this year, Tadcaster Town Council voted to support the proposals, though North Yorkshire Council has yet to decide as the planning authority.

She said: “There was a commitment to getting those buildings back into use.”

The Angel and White Horse is said to be re-opening later this month.

(Image: Darren Greenwood)

Cllr Poskitt also welcomed the upcoming re-opening of the ‘flagship’ Angel & White Horse next to the brewery, which will also see the reintroduction of brewery tours.

She explained: “It's important to note that all of these things have been in place for a considerable amount of time, they were always the intentions of Mr (Humphrey) Smith so the brewery will continue to honour his legacy.

“The letter was really well received by the Town Council and they look forward to supporting the brewery with their endeavours.”

Cllr Poskitt added: “Tadcaster has a bright future ahead of it, and whilst all changes take time, I feel really hopeful about what’s to come.”

Tadcaster Mayor Richard Sweeting told the Press on Monday: “Things are progressing and it’s nice to see. Everything is going ticketyboo.”

Christian Horton, Director of Samuel Smith’s Brewery, also told the Press: “The brewery continues to support a high-quality heritage-led regeneration of the town’s Conservation Area.”