A 19th CENTURY malting house which is one of only a few remaining in the country is the subject of a new £1.7 million housing development in York.

York-based developer Northminster has revealed plans to transform Clementhorpe Maltings, owned by City of York Council, into six family town houses.

Northminster, which has developed 20-acre Northminster Business Park on the outskirts of the city, is submitting the plans after having agreed with the council to purchase and redevelop the property, while retaining features synonymous with the city's brewing heritage.

Plans to develop the historic Grade II Listed 10,000 sq ft malting house includes creating an open three-storey communal entrance with a part-glazed roof to display some of the original integral machinery of the malting process which include a cast iron steep, a corn-dressing machine, double-bucket elevator, a large hopper for storing grain and a kiln furnace by H.J.H. King, thought to be one of only two remaining in the country.

It is also planned to retain other original historic features such as timber trusses, malt bin doors and steel mesh used on the floors of the drying room as design features within the new homes.

Northminster development surveyor, Alastair Gill, said: "We’re very pleased to be moving forward with our proposals for this fascinating property.

"We have an excellent working relationship with City of York Council and believe we have come up with a highly-innovative scheme which preserves the history of the building."

According to research by York Archeological Trust, Clementhorpe Malting’s was built in the late 19th century and is known to have been used by Tadcaster Tower Brewery Company, which was formed in 1882, until the late 1950s.

Mr Gill added: "As this is a Grade II Listed building, our plan is for a sensitive refurbishment embracing the history and heritage of the structure and preserving it for future generations.

"This is a very challenging property which has been vacant for many years but with the right approach stunning family homes can be created."

If planners give the scheme the go ahead, the £1.74 million scheme will create two two-bedroom homes and four three-bed homes, with the refurbishment taking nine months to complete. The homes are expected to carry a price tag of between £235,000 and £350,000.