A vacant leisure facility is set to reopen for communities to enjoy as part of an ongoing commitment to drive regeneration in towns across North Yorkshire.
The Summit Indoor Adventure Centre is due to open its doors this summer after we secured a new tenant for the venue, which sits next to the Selby Leisure and Wellbeing Hub.
The premises opened in May 2016 but was forced to close as a result of lockdown restrictions which were introduced in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. The centre was later used as a vaccination site with up to 5,000 people a week receiving immunisations.
We inherited the building from the former Selby District Council following local government reorganisation in March 2023. Since then, significant work has taken place to secure a tenant and bring the facility back into active community use.
A lease has now been agreed with Curly Pepper Trading Ltd, which operates seven other indoor adventure parks across the UK, including in Bristol, Hemel Hempstead and Eastbourne.
Communities in Selby and the surrounding areas will soon benefit from a vibrant new leisure offer, including a giant children’s play area, climbing wall and ten-pin bowling lanes.
Vogue Padel is also set to be opened at the site, consisting of two premium indoor padel courts, with an emphasis on working closely with schools and community groups to encourage young people to get into the sport.
The lease with Curly Pepper forms part of our wider work to review its estate and regenerate vacant sites. The agreement is set to generate valuable income to support the delivery of key local services, while also creating jobs and increasing town centre footfall.
Executive member for open to business, Cllr Mark Crane, whose responsibilities include the visitor economy and regeneration, said: “This is welcome news, and I’m pleased that this facility is being brought back into community use.
“This is one of a number of vacant venues that we inherited following the launch of this council, and we have been actively working to secure a new tenant that can deliver benefits for the community and the local economy.
“By encouraging investment and regeneration, we can hopefully attract more people into our town centres who are likely to spend money in other shops and venues, while also providing local employment opportunities.
“It’s vital that we continue to identify opportunities to drive investment and increase footfall in our high streets.”
Cllr Steve Shaw-Wright, a local member for the Selby West division, added: “This is positive news for residents and visitors to the town.
“It is important that we do everything we can to reduce the number of vacant premises so that we maintain a vibrant high street and encourage future investment. I’m pleased to see the site being brought back into use and hope families enjoy the new leisure facility when it opens in time for the summer holidays.”
With the lease now signed, Curly Pepper will be looking to renovate the venue with the aim of opening its doors in time for the summer holidays.
The compliance and technical director of Curly Pepper Trading Ltd, Liam Caffrey, said: “We’re incredibly excited to be bringing The Summit back to life.
“We’re delighted to be investing in the site and giving many of its existing attractions a new lease of life for the local community to enjoy once again.
“The return of the bowling lanes, climbing walls and soft play is just the start, and we’re equally excited to introduce Vogue Padel as part of the next phase of the development.
“We can’t wait to welcome customers through the doors and become part of the Selby community.”
The letting was facilitated by Align, our property consultancy.
The director of commercial agency and head of commercial real estate at Align, Daniel Clinch, said: "This is an excellent outcome for all parties and one I am particularly pleased to have concluded.
“Returning a leisure facility of this scale to active community use reflects exactly the kind of result a well-managed commercial property strategy should deliver generating sustainable revenue for the council, while creating genuine benefit for the communities it serves.
“I would like to extend my thanks to colleagues at North Yorkshire Council for their collaborative approach throughout, and in particular to Curly Pepper Trading Ltd for the professionalism and commitment they have shown in bringing this transaction to a successful conclusion."