A NEW country house, which has been approved by Ryedale District Council, will be the first of its kind in Yorkshire for 200 years.

Ravenswick Hall, a large country house near Kirkbymoorside, will be demolished to make way for the new building.

The hall, which sits derelict on a site north of the town, was approved for demolition at a Ryedale District Council planning meeting. Also to be demolished are the surrounding outbuildings and former agricultural buildings.

In their place, the council has approved the construction of a 10-bedroom country house with associated buildings, including a leisure building, a service building, detached quadruple garage, gatehouse, pool house, outdoor swimming pool, garden store, tennis court, landscaped gardens with temple and grotto, two belvederes (structures designed to take advantage of a scenic view) and two linked pools.

In addition, there will be the construction of a four-bedroom "staff dwelling" with attached double garage and three additional three-bedroom staff dwellings with attached single garages.

The architects for the new buildings are Adam Architects, who specialise in creating significant new country houses in a classical design. The council planning committee commended the proposal on its design quality, and welcomed "the first major new country house to be built in Yorkshire for more than 200 years".

The agent for the build is Chris Creighton of Peacock and Smith in Leeds.

He said: "We're pleased, and we look forward to seeing work get started. Contractors are currently being appointed with a view to construction starting later this year."

Residents of the local community were communicated with and consulted during the planning stages. Mr Creighton added that a well-attended exhibition was held by the architects last summer where people could see the plans.

The new house will be a family home, and will retain the Ravenswick Hall name.