Residents oppose homes plans for former hospital buildings

Objectors have written to Leeds Council over aspects of proposals for the former Wharfedale General Hospital, Otley.

They do not want to see the demolition of a former mortuary but developers say they could not convert it as no one will want to live there because of its past.

The public body which funds affordable housing, the Homes and Communities Agency, has submitted fresh plans to convert the buildings to form 22 flats and 14 houses and the building of 35 new houses.

The proposed site used to be part of the old Wharfedale General Hospital, which has relocated. Originally used as the Wharfedale Union Workhouse, the buildings are currently vacant.

A Leeds Council planning report recommends the plans are approved.

The report says the proposal aims to provide a new residential development which will combine the conversion of listed buildings with new buildings to “create a series of courtyard enclosures forming a succession of private and public spaces around which dwellings are oriented.”

The HCA proposal aims to create a “well-designed character development” providing a wide variety of housing within a landscaped setting.

The proposal will provide a total of 72 housing units, 40 of which will be within the existing buildings and 32 within new-build blocks or extensions to the existing buildings.

The proposal would see:

22 one-, two- and three-bedroom retirement flats in the existing Grade II listed dining, entrance, kitchen and main buildings;

Eight two-bedroom new homes;

Fourteen two-bedroom new homes in the New Infirmary building;

Fifteen three-bedroom new homes;

Four three-bedroom refurbished houses in the Old Infirmary;

Nine four-bedroom new homes.

The main Workhouse, the Old Infirmary, and the entrance block and casual wards are included on the list of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest.

A previous plan for homes on the site was withdrawn in 2009 to allow the applicant to overcome issues relating to flood risk and the effect on residents in Newall Carr Road.

But objectors have raised concerns about the fresh application. Liberal Democrat MP Greg Mulholland has written on behalf of constituents on Newall Carr Road, who do not want the former mortuary building to be demolished. Otley Town councillors have made several objections. They too want the mortuary to be retained. The town council claims the modern buildings proposed are not in keeping with the style of the site.

Eight letter writers have objected to the plans and one person sent a letter in support.

Local residents have called for the mortuary to be retained and claim that existing parking problems on surrounding streets caused by the hospital will only be made worse.

They believe that the development will “overlook and overshadow” nearby homes.

The planning report concludes that the proposals create the opportunity to strip away some of the “unsympathetic” extensions and restore significant elements of the original facades.

It adds: “The scheme entails the demolition of the frontage mortuary building which is a structure of some historical significance. It has been accepted by officers however that as the reuse of this building presents difficulties in terms of residential reuse in terms of the past usage... the loss of the mortuary building can on balance be accepted.

“The application represents an important opportunity to restore and secure the future use of the historic buildings.”

Councillors discuss the report on Thursday September 15.