Woodend Creative Workspace, Scarborough

This former council-owned museum and Grade II* listed marine villa is forging a new life for itself as Scarborough’s creative hub. Allen Tod Architects’ design has breathed a contemporary elegance into this nineteenth-century building, whilst maintaining many of the original features, to create 52 distinctive studio offices, nine artist studios, an incubation unit, a public contemporary visual art gallery, a tenants’ lounge, two conference rooms and meeting rooms. A flowering sedum roof has been added to the new workspace to help maintain the internal temperature and it also changes colour with the seasons.

This £6 million project, funded by Yorkshire Forward, Scarborough Borough Council and the European Regional Development Fund, is expected to open its doors in April 2008. John Shepherd, Senior Urban Renaissance Manager, Yorkshire Forward says “The development of the creative industries sector in Scarborough was identified as a key element within Yorkshire Forward’s Renaissance Programme, arising chiefly out of a need to reposition the town in terms of future business development. Bringing together the three spheres of the Regional Economic Strategy; People, Place and Business in a sustainable manner, the project gives the communities of the borough new opportunities for prosperity, development and diversity, both for the renaissance of Scarborough and the region”.

Scarborough already boasts a large number of quality creative companies and is well known for Alan Ayckbourn plays, top clothes designers and the output of creative graduates from the University of Hull’s campus. “We need to harness and retain this talent; support them in starting their own businesses, by providing these incubator and networking facilities” comments Nick Taylor, Urban Renaissance Manager, Yorkshire Forward.

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