A BLUEPRINT for the redevelopment of Malton’s livestock market and the creation of a new food store has been handed in to planners.

The Fitzwilliam Estate has drawn up a scheme which would see the current market demolished and replaced with four new retail units, including an “anchor” store designed to boost business in the centre of the town.

The project also includes an area of public open space and a three-storey car park. The estate says two consultations staged with residents and businesses in the town had revealed a show of local support for the development.

It has now submitted a planning application to Ryedale District Council, with a decision expected to be made in July.

“The proposal aims to provide a high-quality new retail development which extends the existing town centre, increases choice and acts to promote Malton as a shopping destination,” said a planning statement from the estate’s agents, GVA.

“It will bring significant benefits to Malton, supporting the vitality and viability of the existing town centre. The proposals will provide a retail anchor, drawing shoppers to Malton and helping to claw back existing retail spend from outside Ryedale. Architecturally, the proposal has been designed to be in keeping with the traditional scale and urban environment of Malton.

“The multi-storey car park has a traditional façade which gives the feeling of a mill building, similar to other traditional commercial buildings within Malton.”

GVA also said the food store would fill a gap in the town’s retail sector and have more than 25,000 square feet of floorspace, while the open space would “create a new meeting place and provide opportunities for farmers’ markets”, as well as supporting existing events such as Malton’s Food Lovers’ Festival.

The estate has said it intends the new store to be part of the town centre and to act as a boost for other Malton businesses by attracting more trade to the area, following criticism from retailers of the council’s plans to build a supermarket on the edge of the town at the Wentworth Street car park site.

A committee set up to analyse the future of the livestock market is currently looking at four sites where it could be based, with the cost of setting it up elsewhere potentially being £2.5 million.