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Cookridge Hospital site goes for £4.5m; Excellent potential for a high-quality housing development.
DTZ residential director Phil Roebuck commented: "We are delighted to have concluded this significant land sale - one of very few achieved in the market in recent months.
"The site offers excellent potential for a high quality housing development which will be well placed to take advantage of the improving market conditions."
The 19.5 acre site has planning approval for some 248 dwellings, comprising a mix of houses and apartments, some of which are to be within the original Grade II listed hospital buildings.
The site also includes a 16,000 sq ft office building, which following refurbishment, will be available for sale or to let on flexible terms.
It is earmarked for mainly two-storey family housing, including gardens and garaging.
Neil Chapman, Director of Finance for Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust said: "Since all services transferred from Cookridge Hospital to the purpose-built new St James's Institute of Oncology in 2008, we have been working hard to secure a sale of this redundant site.
"In what we recognise is a very difficult property market, we are convinced this is a good deal."
"The money from the sale of Cookridge Hospital will go directly into this year's Trust budget to ensure we continue to deliver high quality patient care for more than a million people who use our services.
"We look forward to the developer breathing new life into the site which has served the NHS very well in the past and will now have a new role providing homes for local people."
Chartford are to begin work on the site immediately, with demolition and enabling works, with the first 24 houses due to be available towards the end of 2010.
Prices will start at approximately £175,000. Chris Thompson, Chartford MD said: "We are delighted to be working in partnership with Pullans again who in addition to their financial strength bring years of development experience with them, particularly in the refurbishment of listed buildings.
"We are very pleased to secure this prime north Leeds housing site as the market appears to have now levelled out.
"We are hopeful the availability of mortgage finance will improve throughout the year, in time for what we believe will be an ideal scheme for family housing.
"We are quietly confident that this product, priced keenly will be highly in demand even in what is a challenging market." he added.
Chartford and Pullans were advised by surveyors Carter Towler and Blacks Solicitors, the NHS were represented by DTZ and Eversheds Solicitors.
Plans for New Railway Station at Kirkstall Forge Get the Green Light from Council
Leeds City Council has approved plans for a new railway station at Kirkstall Forge.
The proposals for the new station, which form part of Commercial Estates Group's wider scheme to transform the 56-acre former industrial site into a thriving mixed-use community, were unanimously supported by the planning committee.
CEG's masterplan for Kirkstall Forge includes 1,045 homes and 300,000 sq ft of commercial office space as well as retail and leisure facilities. The company has provided £4 million towards the delivery of the station which will not only serve the new Forge development but also the wider area including Kirkstall, south Horsforth and Bramley Falls areas of the city.
"A new station at Kirkstall Forge is a key element in reducing congestion along a busy road corridor into Leeds, and I am glad that Leeds City Council has now given the project planning permission." said Metro Chairman Cllr Ryk Downes.
"Metro has worked closely with Network Rail, Northern, Leeds City Council and site developer CEG, which is contributing £4m to the larger £23.24m rail growth scheme, so it is important that we now ensure that the Government gives the scheme the go-ahead so this private sector funding is not lost."
Charles Johnson from CEG adds: "The new railway station will mean that Kirkstall Forge will only be a six minute journey from Leeds city centre. This, together with the riverside frontage and facilities such as a gym, créche, hotel, restaurants and bars makes it an ideal location for residents and businesses to locate."
Subject to approval from the Department for Transport, the station could be opened in 2013.
Kirkstall Forge will be an intimate and safe residential community with sustainable public transport links via a new rail station positioned only 6 minutes from Leeds city centre. With an integrated bus strategy, Kirkstall Forge will be a unique rural setting for the urban worker.
The buildings will be of high quality, traditional materials using modern methods of construction that will stand the test of time and integrate with and be sympathetic to their environment.
Thoughtful design, quality fixtures and fittings and a good understanding of light and space will lead to a policy of living environment beyond anything currently offered in Leeds. Kirkstall Forge will deliver individuality, quality and practicality.
Kirkstall Forge is about regeneration and bringing together people in an integrated community. Boundaries need to be explored and people's perceptions of how they live challenged. Kirkstall Forge will provide a unique offer, which will be achieved via thoughtful and comprehensive design.
Pledge over former Horsforth chemical plant site
The new owners of a former Aire Valley chemical works have promised to retain green spaces and sports grounds when the site is redeveloped, mainly for housing.
Cheshire-based Harrow Estates has bought the former Clariant industrial complex at Horsforth for an undisclosed sum and is now in discussions with planning officials about its future development.
Following the deal, Swiss-based international chemicals giant Clariant will keep its UK head office in the area at a new base near Leeds-Bradford International Airport at Yeadon.
The 48-acre site on Calverley Lane, between Bradford and Leeds, was originally built for former Bradford textile dyes producer Sandoz and was bought by Clariant in 1995 and closed earlier this year with the loss of 160 jobs.
The sale of the site was handled by chartered surveyors Eddisons. Cheshire-based Harrow Estates, part of the Bridgemere Group of Companies, confirmed it was looking to develop the former Clariant site mainly for housing with some commercial use.
Legal director Vincent Fairclough said the number of homes would be subject to negotiation and planning consent.
He said: "It is too early to say at this stage how many residential properties will be developed on the site but I can confirm that we are talking to planners about the site's future.
"There will be some commercial development and we are aiming to retain existing sports grounds and green spaces as part of any development."
Simon Croft, of Eddisons, said: "Despite coming to market in very tough trading conditions, there was a lot of interest and we were able to conclude the deal quickly, which reflected the prime location of the site." Eddisons has also worked with Clariant to secure new premises for its UK headquarters.
He said: "Having identified potential locations we were able to take advantage of favourable leasing conditions to secure 8,000 square feet of office space at Rawdon Park, Yeadon, close to Leeds-Bradford International Airport.
"In a very short period of time we have provided Clariant with a complete relocation service, including the disposal of their existing site, identification of new offices and full project management."
Horsforth rail link a step closer
THE growing number of people wishing to rent property in Horsforth have been reassured that plans for an additional £13m railway station are still very much 'on track'.
The move would be a significant boost for the Leeds suburb and add an extra dimension to its good transport links.
The Yorkshire and Humber Assembly's regional transport board (RTB) rejected a proposal to recoup funding from councils to pay for a new station at Horsforth Woodside.
But the plan has been put on a "priority reserve list" which means it could be in line for funding if any of the other proposals fall through.
The new stop on the Leeds-Harrogate line would be part of the £90m regeneration scheme at the Woodside quarry which aims to create a village with houses, offices, a medical centre, pub/restaurant, gym, hotel and shop.
Progress on new Horsforth station plans
30 January 2008
From West Yorkshire
Metro Chairman Councillor Ryk Downes has welcomed news that its planned rail station at Horsforth Woodside Quarry has taken a step closer to becoming a reality.
Last week, Leeds City Council£s West Plans Panel agreed a package of public transport improvements to facilitate this development on the busy Harrogate rail line and adjacent to Leeds outer ring road. These include:
- £300,000 for feasibility work on the introduction of tram-trains
- £1.25m towards construction of a new rail halt
- land for a proposed multi-storey car park for up to 300 cars:
- £500,000 for developing local bus services planned to link the site with the Moor Grange Estate, Holt Park, West Park and Horsforth.
Bus and train use will be promoted as the developer will also pay for a free MetroCard for all households on the site.
"With major development planned for the area, good public transport will be essential, so last week£s announcement is extremely good news," said Councillor Downes.
"As well as being a way of reducing traffic congestion in the area, a new station would complement Metro£s plans to introduce continental-style tram-trains on the Harrogate line," he continued.
"Tram-trains calling at a modern Horsforth Woodside Quarry station, designed around their planned introduction, would be able to provide local people with the frequent and quick links to and from the centre of Leeds they will need."
"This is an important step forward and demonstrates the benefits of Metro taking a proactive approach to the public transport needs of new developments."
Background information:
The Harrogate Line is a busy commuter route linking Leeds with Headingley, Horsforth, Harrogate, Knaresborough and York. Like West Yorkshire£s other rail routes it has seen high growth in passenger numbers over the past 10 years.
The developer will be contributing £20,000 towards improving cycle ways in the area.
There will be funding for a direct extension of the number 56 bus into the site.
As part of its 25-Year Transport Vision for the Leeds City Region, Metro wants to see tram-trains introduced along the line.
Tram-trains are a hybrid of trams and trains that can run on existing railway lines and also on rails set into the highway and into and around towns and cities.
Savings made by running the lighter tram-trains could be invested in on-street extensions into the centres of Leeds and York, and new links to areas of growing employment and Leeds/Bradford International Airport.
Multi-million pound sports and fitness centre unveiled in Horsforth
Trinity and All Saints College is about unveil a new £3.2 million sports and fitness centre on Brownberrie Lane, the first phase in a massive expansion project.
Overall the college is investing £6 million on its Horsforth site in a bid to gain University status.
The refurbished sports facilities are open to the public and feature state-of-the-art gym equipment as well as courts for badminton, squash, table tennis, volleyball and five-a-side football.
Commercial services manager at the college Damon Shaw said: "I'm very excited about the prospect of delivering a high quality new sports facility to Horsforth. The centre will provide the very best equipment and a mix of activities to rival any sports facility in the area."
The college currently has over 2.500 students, and wants to increase that number to 5,000 in five years in order to apply for university status and award its own degrees.
Work is also underway on five en-suite accommodation blocks on Brownberrie Lane, which will include 161 bedrooms.
A planning application for the blocks this April met with 472 objections from local residents concerned about parking chaos.
The sports centre will be officially opened on November 1 by the Lord Mayor of Leeds, Brian Cleasby, and the Bishop of Leeds, Rt Rev Arthur Roche.
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