The former Linton Springs Hotel, Sicklinghall – originally a Georgian country house – is being redeveloped into apartments in a £6m scheme supported by Yorkshire Bank's Harrogate Financial Solutions Centre (FSC).

It is the Harrogate FSC's biggest deal since it was created two years ago.

Husband-and-wife team Bernard and Jude Palmer's Harrogate-based property company, Palmer Developments (North) Ltd, is re-developing the 20,000 sq ft former hotel.

After acquiring the building a year ago, they are transforming it into 14 two-and-three bedroom apartments due to complete this summer.

Palmer Developments (North) Ltd was founded ten years ago by the Palmers and the company specialises in the sensitive regeneration of character properties for residential use.

Mr Palmer is a maxio-facial surgeon based at Harrogate District Hospital and his wife is a former media consultant specialising in advising TV producers on their intellectual property rights.

Linton Springs Hotel, which closed two years ago, was a popular wedding and conference venue due to its 14-acre grounds and rural location between Harrogate, Leeds and Wetherby.

Planners

The regeneration scheme, which was backed by Leeds City Council planners, is being carried out by Brenville Construction, Bradford.

It is the biggest project undertaken by Palmer Developments (North ) Ltd, which has previously concentrated on home refurbishments and conversions.

Mrs Palmer said: "Linton Springs Hotel is a beautiful building in a fabulous location and ideal for our approach to regenerating character buildings. As a husband-and-wife team we divide the responsibilities according to our strengths and create homes we would like to live in.

"Our scheme at Linton Springs has retained the attractive Georgian façade to create large, characterful homes which are ideal for those who are seeking an apartment but do not want urban living; couples who are downsizing or those seeking a second home in the countryside."

All the ground floor apartments will have their own garden and patio space and others will have communal and private areas. There will also be parking for two vehicles for each apartment.

Yorkshire Bank Harrogate FSC business partner, Andy Hay, said: "We are delighted to be supporting the Linton Springs Hotel scheme which has required significant funding and which I am sure will be very successful."