Homes and funeral director on plans for former bank in Newby

The group was instrumental in stopping the property in Scalby Road becoming a Sainsbury’s store last year and has now moved to secure a new use for the premises.

In an application to Scarborough Borough Council the firm states that its wish is to turn the bank into a retail space with a flat above it.

Two four-bedroom detached homes would also be built on the site as part of the submission.

Ian Proudfoot told The Scarborough News: “We think they are exciting plans.

“We can’t say who it is going to be at the moment but there is funeral directors lined-up to take the retail space at the bottom where the bank was, I think that will be a welcome addition to the area.

“We didn’t want a business that was going to have a lot of cars coming in and out all day so this is perfect.”

Sainsbury’s plans, which were rejected by the borough council’s planning committee, attracted close to 400 objections, including from Proudfoot, which said 15 people could have lost their job if the supermarket was allowed to build on the site of the Natwest bank.

Only two objections have been submitted against the Proudfoot plan, by Newby and Scalby Parish Council and the Scalby Village Trust.

The parish council states in its objection that: “Councillors did not feel three storey houses were in keeping with the surrounding area.

“Councillors also had considerable reservations as to the proposal to build a first storey flat above the existing banking hall - it was felt the massing would be unacceptable since all the neighbouring properties were single storey. “Concern was also expressed as to parking.”

Mr Proudfoot said he was “surprised” by the two objections but said he was pleased no members of the public had opposed the scheme. He added: “We think it’s superb and look forward to getting on with it.”