AMBITIOUS plans have been put forward to “revitalise” Malton market place.

Landlords Fitzwilliam Estate has revealed its blueprint to create two new buildings on the forecourt of the town’s Milton Rooms.

A planning application has been lodged for a new shop next to Paley’s greengrocers and an extension to the current Ambiente tapas restaurant.

Nearly all car parking spaces outside the building will be lost if the development is given the green light, at a date yet to be fixed.

Roddy Bushell, estate manager, said the proposals will replace original buildings which were pulled down in 1931 to make way for the new Milton Rooms.

Earlier this year, members of the Milton Rooms committee, which is run as a community facility, were granted permission to building an extension to provide basement storage, a cellar and ground floor public bars, a lift, foyer, new toilets, new-look corridor and internal stairway to access the Assembly Rooms and changing rooms.

It is hoped that if the estate’s plans are granted permission the two projects will run side-by-side.

He said: “The design will frame the Milton Rooms and enhance its setting within the Market Place. By trying to get the scheme to a similar stage as the Milton Rooms extension proposal, the Estate can work with the Milton Rooms Committee to try to attract external grant funding for the projects.”

Under the plans all but three of the 17 ordinary and two disabled parking bays will be lost.

He added: “Unavoidably the proposed development will result in the loss of some parking spaces. However, the Estate is in consultation with Ryedale District Council to take back management of the Market Place car park and radically improve the parking provision in the Market Square by providing free – albeit limited waiting – parking.”