Ledston Hall is one of a handful of grade I-listed properties in the Leeds City Region, but is on the buildings at risk register as the fabric of the hall is in very poor repair.

The oldest parts of the hall date from the medieval era, although it was substantially completed in the late 1600s, and it is now owned and managed by the Wheeler Foundation, a charitable trust.

Documents prepared by Purcell Miller Tritton on behalf of the trust seek permission to develop ten dwellings within the hall and erect an energy centre with associated works including new access.

The development of the four houses and six apartments is expected to bring the hall back into full residential occupation and secure a long term use of the building, generating ongoing revenue for the trust.

Specific advice on the nature of the residential accommodation has been provided by the residential lettings, agency and estate management teams at Carter Jonas.

Carter Jonas is responsible for all aspects of the management of the Ledston Estate, including residential lettings, which amounts to 34 distinct residential properties and seven tenanted farms let with houses and land – the estate itself extends to some 3,050 acres.

Demand is expected from a range of tenants, including retired couples looking to downsize and young professionals who desire a rural location within commuting distance of Leeds and Wakefield.

Currently there are five apartments within Ledston Hall, four of which are tenanted, alongside a chapel and vestry area used by members of the local community. The remaining areas of the hall are vacant and have been since its last use ceased in 1954 when it was in use as a school.

In a report to be considered by councillors next week, the application for listed building and full planning permission are considered to be acceptable despite elements of the application being considered inappropriate development in the greenbelt.

The public benefit of bringing a grade I building at risk back into use and allowing public access to the building are considered to amount to the very special circumstances necessary to justify the development.

The proposals also involve part of the estate’s public space being converted into an area to cater for events and activities, including business functions.

The Wheler Foundation intends to undertake the works in two phases; the initial phase will repair all the external envelope of the historic building and carry out urgent repairs which will be funded by the charitable trust.

The second phase involves the renovation work needed to bring the whole of the building back into use, along with the proposals for the wider estate parkland. This will be undertaken on a rolling programme, so that as the residential units are let the income can be used to fund the scheme.

The foundation will apply for Heritage Lottery funding to assist in the works to repair the principle rooms and to provide public access to the building and site.

In 2007, Ledston Hall, which is reported to be haunted by the ghost of Mary Pannell, who was executed as a witch in the 1600s, featured on Most Haunted:Live in 2007.

Image taken from documents prepared by Purcells, with thanks