RYEDALE is set to gain its first five-star hotel, after plans for the luxury development were given the go-ahead.
Members of Ryedale District Council’s planning committee unanimously voted to approve the scheme, which will boast a 12-bedroom boutique hotel, a restaurant, swimming pool, gym and spa.
Rillington House and Spa will be built at Mill House Farm, in East Knapton, and is expected to create more than 25 jobs.
Under the plans, the farmhouse would be demolished to make way for the new hotel building and fitness club, while the barns would be transformed into a restaurant and lounge bar.
The fitness club, which would be open to hotel guests and private members, will offer a 20-metre swimming pool, sauna, Jacuzzi and steam room.
There would also be a state-of-the-art gym and a Belisa Spa, offering a wide range of holistic health and beauty treatments.
Coun Keith Knaggs, leader of Ryedale District Council, said: “The whole concept and design is clearly of very high quality and I understand the facilities will be available to local people as well as guests, which is very welcome.
“I hope and expect the venture to be a big success. It is especially pleasing to see the willingness to invest in Ryedale at a time when there’s a lot of doom and gloom around.”
According to a supporting statement accompanying the application, the hotel would feature 12 “individually designed” en-suite bedrooms with “luxurious bathrooms”.
The 40-seat restaurant would offer fusion food, providing breakfast, lunch and dinner, with an emphasis on healthy eating.
Mill House Leisure Ltd, the company behind the development, hopes Rillington House will be the first of five luxury hotels in the North of England.
The hotel has been designed by Matthew Groom, of Brierley Groom Architects in York, and work is expected to start early next year.