Plans drawn up to turn children's home into housing

Bramham House, on Freely Lane near Wetherby, has lain derelict for decades

A former children's home could be turned into housing, after standing empty for decades.

Plans have been drawn up to convert the derelict Bramham House, near Wetherby, into 38 houses and flats - but the initial report suggests there will be no "affordable housing" within the development.

The project would see the main body of the building, on Freely Lane, demolished, with its historic front facade maintained and re-built.

The scheme by Bramham House Ltd would include 21 houses and 17 apartments.

A Leeds City Council planning panel was shown an early-stage presentation of project, ahead of full planning permission being sought, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

The report detailed how the19th century building was in a state of disrepair, with doors and windows boarded up and no roof.

"This site is rich in history and heritage," said architect Lee Vincent, adding "we acknowledge the need to provide high-quality design and [will] do what we can to maintain the memory of Bramham House".

"However, the site has been derelict for decades and was allocated for housing more than 20 years ago."

According to council planning policy, 35% of homes in the development should be classed as affordable.

But the developer's report stated "abnormal costs" on the project meant none could be provided.

Any affordable homes provision in the project would be subject to an independent financial assessment.

Wetherby councillor Alan Lamb, who leads the city's Conservative Group, said the site had been impacted by anti-social behaviour and fires: "It's been an ongoing issue in my ward since before I became a councillor in 2007."

The councillor said affordable homes, along with parking and road safety, were the main concerns for people living nearby, but conceded, the report indicated "it's a complex site to develop".

Previous plans for Bramham House, which was used as an ambulance station at one stage, included a care home scheme which was approved in 2020.

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