Former office building to be transformed into £5m apartment scheme

A planning application has been submitted for the transformation of a former office building in Horsforth into a new £5m apartment development.

The property, Greatminster House, is located on the junction between Low Lane, Troy Road and Lister Hill.

Avenir Works, the property development firm, plans to convert the building into a selection of one and two-bedroom apartments, which are being designed by Leeds-based Brewster Bye Architects.

A permitted development application has now been submitted, to transform the 1960s building into 21 apartments, along with a separate planning application to improve its façade.

In addition, a further planning application has been submitted to see the building’s pitched roof removed and another storey added to accommodate a further five, two-bedroom apartments.

Aimar Natheer from Avenir Works, said: “Horsforth has become one of Leeds’ most sought after residential suburbs in recent years and there is huge demand in the area for high quality new homes, with parking, that are close to the town’s rail links, shops, bars and restaurants.

“This development would tick all the boxes and give a tired office building that has been mostly unoccupied in recent years, a brand-new lease of life.”

Chris Austin, managing director at Brewster Bye Architects, added: “Greatminster House was brought into Horsforth’s conservation boundary back in 2008 and highlighted as an ‘opportunity for enhancement.

“These plans would realise the building’s potential, replacing its dated glass curtain walling with more sympathetic materials and design, that respond to the heritage and architectural character of the local area.

“This would also be more in keeping with all the other development work in the local area in recent years, which has seen the historic Horsforth Mills and Troy Mill also converted into highly sought-after apartments. In addition, replacing the pitched roof with a new structure and storey, would give the building a contemporary composure and enhance its residential appearance, without dominating the building, or overly exceeding its current height.”