Haxby bank to be an estate agency

Natwest on The Village in Haxby closed its doors for good in October.

Plans have now been submitted to turn the former bank into a branch of Stephensons Estate Agents and Chartered Surveyors on the ground floor, with the offices above to be converted into flats.

The building, which is next door to Sainsbury’s and within the conservation area, had been used for banking services for more than 20 years but has been vacant since Natwest shut down.

Planning documents say: “Though called the Village, Haxby’s main street today has more a market town atmosphere, being the thriving shopping centre for the surrounding population.

“The proposals will have little effect on the local environment.

“They will preserve and enhance the character of the area and the building.”

There are no plans for an extension but there will be separate access to the first-floor flats.

The ground floor would become an office with a store room, kitchen and two bathrooms while the two flats would each have a combined kitchen and living room, one bedroom and a shower room.

Planning documents said the flats will be about 44 metres squared and 50 metres squared respectively, adding: “The project could produce two dwellings in an excellent location in the village that would add to the housing stock.”

The application included no details about parking but said the car park behind Sainsbury’s is for supermarket customers.

Applicants said the ground floor would become offices for “one of York’s most notable property agents” and plans include new signs for Stephenson’s Estate Agents.

The estate agency already has branches in York, Easingwold, Boroughbridge, Knaresborough, Selby, Helmsley, Kirkbymoorside, Malton and Pickering.

Documents say the new office would employ four members of staff.

Stephensons were approached for a comment

The Haxby Road branch of Lloyds bank also closed in 2017, leaving residents with only one bank in the town, a Barclays on The Village.