Developer seeks to convert iconic Hallmark House into £30m residential site

The iconic former Hallmark House site in Heaton, Bradford, could be converted into a £30m residential development with 145 homes and 240 apartments by its new owners.

Barnsley-based investor and developer The Investment Room bought the Grade Two listed building for £6.5m in May. The firm has now unveiled plans to convert the existing buildings into 145 new homes and create 240 apartments within the grounds of the former card factory; which will have a gross development value of £30m.

The Grade Two listed iconic main building is an example of Art Deco architecture and key heritage features will be maintained and restored through the conversion.  In addition to the main building, the site totals a further 3.3 acres.

The sale of the 8.76 acre site followed the relocation of Hallmark Cards from Hallmark House to its sister site at Dawson Lane in south Bradford, with the company’s 500 staff. Hallmark House totals 76,207 sq ft and was built in 1937 and refurbished in 2001.

The redevelopment will use the original W N Sharpe name in a nod to its name when it was first built.  During the 1930s, W N Sharpe of Bradford built Hallmark House as the headquarters for its successful printing business.

Lee Jones, Managing Director of The Investment Room, said: “Our plans respect the immense heritage of the existing buildings, whilst also utilising the rest of this large brownfield site through high quality new apartments.

“We would encourage as many people as possible to take part in our consultation so we can get feedback before a planning application is submitted.”

The access from Thorn Lane will be closed, with the only car access to the site coming from Bingley Road. In 1984, Hallmark Cards acquired W N Sharpe’s printing operation for nearly £21m.

A public exhibition will be held on 12 September at Hallmark House (3pm – 7pm), on Bingley Road, to garner feedback from the local community before a formal planning application is submitted.

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