Village’s landmark building goes back to the future in housing plan

A LANDMARK listed building which has had a mixed use over many years is to be transformed back into one of the Wharfe Valley’s most prominent residential addresses.

Burley House, in Burley in Wharfedale, sits in just over two acres of gardens and grounds between Ilkley and Otley, and was built in the late 18th century as an elegant mansion house with adjoining mews buildings and a coach house.

For a time the property was home to The Flying Pizza before being converted into offices for Greenwoods Menswear and most recently Findel.

Leeds-based development companies YorPlace and Square Feet have acquired the property, and plan to transform the main building into a five-bedroom wing, along with three luxury large apartments.

They aim to convert the mews building and coach house into six houses before building three townhouses in the grounds.

The Leeds office of Dacres Commercial successfully sold the property, and Dacre Son and Hartley’s Ilkley office will act for the developers in the subsequent sale of the converted and new build homes.

YorPlace and Square Feet are also behind the development of The Malt in Burley in Wharfedale which has seen the former Grade II listed Malt Shovel pub converted into four substantial houses with five new-build cottages in the grounds.

Fraser Thompson, managing director of Square Feet, said: “Development opportunities in Burley in Wharfedale and the surrounding area are few and far between, despite the area being a very sought after place to live.

“As a result, the Malt is proving extremely popular, so when Dacres presented us with the opportunity to acquire Burley House, which is probably the village’s best known and most recognisable building, we were immediately interested.”

Matthew Brear, from Dacres Commercial, said: “We’re delighted to complete the sale of this well-known building.”