AN 18th Century former corporate headquarters building is to be returned to residential use after being sold.
Burley House, a Grade I listed building in Burley-in-Wharfedale, which was built as a mansion with mews buildings and a coach house, was sold by Dacres Commercial to Leeds based development companies YorPlace and Square Feet, which specialise in the restoration of historic buildings.
The property was home to The Flying Pizza restaurant before being converted into offices for Greenwoods Menswear and latterly home shopping business Findel, now based in Manchester.
The new owners plan to turn the main building into a five-bedroom wing along with three large luxury apartments and will convert the mews building and coach house into six houses before building three townhouses in the grounds.
Dacre Son Hartley’s Ilkley Office will be acting for the developers in the sale of the homes.
YorPlace and Square Feet have also developed The Malt in Burley in Wharfedale, which saw the former Grade II listed Malt Shovel public house converted into four houses along with five newly built cottages in the grounds.
Matthew Brear from Dacres Commercial, said: “We’re delighted to complete the sale of this well-known building. We have worked with the companies on a number of other stunning developments and there’s no doubt their innovative approach to creating imaginative living spaces will result in Burley House being transformed into a very special place to live.”
Fraser Thompson, Square Feet managing director, added: “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.”
Meanwhile, £250,000 has been spent on renovating the ground floor of the Mercure Bradford Bankfield Hotel, at Cottingley including redesigning the Ballroom On The Park. and The Park Suite. Work included new lighting, carpets and drapes and a new colour scheme.
The hotel’s restaurant, club bar, foyer, listed stairwell and reception area have also been refurbished under the supervision of interior designer Helen Hooper of HH Interiors, who has previously worked with owner Jupiter Hotels on renovation projects .
John Horvath, hotel general manager, said: “We are delighted with the transformation of the ground floor areas. We are very proud of the hotel’s heritage and the new design concept combines tradition with a contemporary edge.”
Ilkley-based property development and investment company Opus North has sold the final phase of its flagship commercial site at Runcorn in Cheshire to DaleKim Investments for £1.68 million.