Former psychiatric hospital earmarked for residential development

The Retreat York has appointed the PJ Livesey Group, a specialist in refurbishing iconic buildings, as preferred supplier to develop the site of its former psychiatric hospital on Heslington Road.

The 40-acre plot, which features a main building opened in 1796 by the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), closed to inpatients at the end of 2018.

It was offered for sale by The Retreat in September last year as part of a wider reconfiguration of services which included the opening of a new children’s outpatient unit in Strensall and the expansion of adult services into the North West of England.

The sale does not encompass all of the buildings in the Heslington Road estate, and The Retreat will continue to deliver services from Heslington Road as part of its adult neurodevelopmental and psychological assessment and therapy services.

PJ Livesey Group’s bid was selected following a competitive process and, subject to formal ratification by the Retreat’s Board of Trustees, the two parties will enter formal contract negotiations.

The initial proposal for the site is for residential development featuring a proportion of affordable housing and a number of initiatives to enhance public access to parts of the Retreat’s wider estate.

Chair/clerk of The Retreat’s Trustees, David Robson, said: “We’re delighted to have made this important next step in the development of this historic site.

“During the selection process we were particularly impressed with PJ Livesey Group’s track record in developing similarly iconic buildings and their commitment to working with us to  involve the local community in the development of the parts of our estate that will remain accessible for public use.

“Protecting the Quaker legacy of the site and providing facilities which benefit local people and our local communities has always been uppermost in our considerations.”

Based in Manchester the PJ Livesey Group has four decades experience refurbishing and converting some of the country’s most significant heritage buildings.

Founder and managing director, Peter Livesey, said: “The Heslington Road site is hugely important, both architecturally and socially and we are very proud to have been selected.

“We will bring all our expertise and passion to this site working with the Quakers, the community and heritage experts to secure its future.”

The Group has previously converted the Terry’s Chocolate factory building in York into apartments and is currently working on the site’s clock tower which will see new homes, as well as the Terry’s clock brought back to full working order.

PJ Livesey development director, James Woodmansee, said: “We will engage in a thorough pre-planning application process with City of York Council, Historic England, conservation groups, local residents and other key stakeholders.

“If matters progress well it is hoped an application would be submitted in the first quarter of 2022.”