Eight homes are set to be built in Selby following the demolition of a redundant carpet showroom, that has stood empty for the last four years.
Plans to redevelop the site on Gowthorpe, formerly home to Pocklington Carpets, were approved by North Yorkshire Council on Wednesday (2 July). The business moved out of the building in 2021.
Despite efforts to market the building, it remained unoccupied, but drew public attention last year when two controversial banners were installed on either side of it.
On 6 November 2024, residents saw banners appear at 80 Gowthorpe declaring ‘Make Selby Great Again’.
The images, an obvious reference to the Donald Trump slogan ‘Make America Great Again’, featured a red baseball cap bearing the phrase.
The building was purchased by Goole-based developers Swan Build Ltd on 12 March 2021, following the closure of Pocklington Carpets. Plans to demolish the 1950’s structure were submitted in July 2023 and approved two years later.
The existing two-storey building is made up of a ground-floor retail unit, with a residential flat and office space above.
It dates back to the mid to late 20th century, and although the building itself isn’t listed, it lays within the Selby Town Conservation Area.
Originally designed as a car showroom, the space eventually became unsuitable for modern vehicles as car sizes increased over time.
Houses and flats
The current building, measuring 315 square metres, will be replaced with a new development spanning approximately 518 square metres. It will home eight residential units, made up of six flats and two townhouses, across two new buildings.
One building will face Gowthorpe, and contain a two-bedroom house, along with three one-bedroom flats. The building is designed to appear like a semi-detached property, in keeping with the surrounding area.
The second building, facing Scott Road, will feature four flats. Two of which will be one-bedroom, and two with two-bedrooms. The design will resemble a pair of two-storey townhouses.
A central stairwell between the two buildings will provides access to flats 6, 7 and 8 on the upper floors, helping to form a transition between the two blocks.
Planning documents state the changes are in keeping with the Upper Gowthorpe area, which is predominantly residential.