Manor Square, Otley: Plans to turn former bank in a Leeds town into retail unit and flats gets green light

The former NatWest bank branch and its adjacent office spaces on the Grade II Listed 5-9 Manor Square in Otley can now receive a new lease of live after a second round of plans were approved by Leeds City Council.

Set over four storeys, the plans, lodged by RCS Properties, proposes converting the first, second and third floors into two one-bedroom flats and one three-bedroom home of multiple occupancy (HMO), while the ground floor is to be converted into a retail unit.

In a supporting document, Stack Architects writes on behalf of the applicant: “The proposals will bring back to life the whole building and assist preservation of the existing fabric and renewal of worn out fixtures and fittings such as waste pipes and windows.

“The buildings are of significant historical and architectural interest mainly as art of the whole terrace. The simple Georgian and Victorian external details and materials work to create this significant central area of Otley with the many surrounding listed buildings.”

Don’t miss any of the latest stories and breaking news from Leeds with our free daily newsletter.

An officers report reveals that the new plans were objected by Otley Town Council, whose committee believes the flats “do not meet City Council space standards”, adding that a HMO “is not something the Committee would oppose in principle, but the proposed development appears to be substandard”.

RCS Properties originally submitted plans for the conversion of the two buildings on Manor Square back in 2019, which it states was “refused and withdrawn” during “the difficult Covid period”.

The amended change of use and listed building applications were lodged to Leeds City Council in September 2023, and was granted full planning and listed building permission on September 3, 2024.