A new lease of life for '˜fragile' historic Leeds house

hopes are high that a crumbling historic house in Chapel Allerton can be saved from ruin, after a renewed planning approval was granted for new homes at the site.

By The Newsroom

Published 25th Jan 2016, 14:57 GMT

Updated 25th Jan 2016, 14:59 GMT

The 1830s Mansion House, originally known as Gledhow Grove and built for Leeds industrialist John Hines, became part of Chapel Allerton Hospital in the 1920s as a facility for veterans of the First World War. Whilst a number of planning applications have been made for the vacant building, little work has been done on it and it is in an increasingly fragile state.

Local councillors Eileen Taylor, Mohammed Rafique and Jane Dowson (Labour, Chapel Allerton) have been working to bring the building back into use. The new planning approval - sought after the original permission granted in 2007 lapsed - means that the owner can build three houses and three flats in the existing building and 12 new homes in the surrounding land. Councillor Taylor said: “This is a charming building that needs to be protected. These new plans give the developer a real chance to make a real difference and turn a dilapidated building into great new homes.”