Former hospital turned into residential development

Cookridge House, a former hospital near Horsforth, has been transformed into a development of affordable homes

Housing provider Stonewater worked with contractor Vistry Partnerships and other partners to transform the dilapidated Grade II listed building to create 30 homes.

The gothic building fell derelict after closing in 2007, when its facilities were transferred to St James’s Hospital in Leeds.

It will now help alleviate the shortage of affordable housing in the Leeds area, with initial lettings made to those on the Leeds Homes register for people in housing need.

Chris Montague, director of development (North and East) at Stonewater said: “We understand the acute need for affordable homes in Yorkshire and Cookridge House is the first scheme Stonewater has delivered in the north utilising £1.23m funding from its strategic partnership with Homes England.

“We’re proud to have delivered these modern, comfortable homes to people who need them most, whilst also boosting the local economy, helping with the area’s social and financial recovery as we emerge from the pandemic.”

Work involved refurbishing the building, converting it into 24 homes – five one-bedroom flats, five two-bedroom flats, five two-bedroom town houses and one four-bedroom town house – for social rent, plus eight two-bedroom town houses for shared ownership.

An additional six two-bedroom houses were built around the original building, available for shared ownership.

The scheme is contributing to the community’s green credentials with the installation of charging points for electrical cars.

Andrew Poyner, managing director at Vistry Partnerships (Yorkshire), said: “We are proud to have been able to bring such a landmark building back to life and provide quality, affordable homes.

“It has been a pleasure working with Stonewater throughout the planning and construction, and we look forward to building many more homes together in Leeds and across the wider region.”

Barry Cummins, national development director at Homes England, said: “We are delighted with the completion of this scheme as it will bring 30 much-needed affordable homes to the local community, set in the beautiful grounds of a Grade II listed building.

“Our work in Leeds is part of a broader effort to unlock housing growth opportunities in this city region including focusing on those that bring historic assets back to life such as Cookridge Hospital.”

Councillor Debra Coupar, Leeds City Council’s executive board member for communities, said: “As a council we know all too well the shortage of affordable housing across the country.

“It’s a huge problem and its one that we are always trying to solve locally. By working with Stonewater we have been able to realise yet another development of affordable homes in the city.

“Its developments like these that are so crucial for helping people to get a foot on the housing ladder and start building a home.”

Nicola Thompson, director at estate agents Adair Paxton, added: “It’s a stunning development that incorporates the grandeur and character of this lovely old building, whilst being fully refurbished and modernised.”

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