Former nursing home cannabis farm to become flats

Plans for 14 flats, offices and a car park have been approved at Moorfield House in Moortown

A former care home which fell into disrepair and was briefly used as a cannabis farm is to be converted into flats.

Planning permission has been granted by Leeds City Council for a redevelopment of the Grade II-listed former Moorfield House Nursing Home in Fieldhouse Walk, Moortown.

In May, six men were jailed after they admitted growing cannabis plants worth up to £446,000 at the site of the nursing home.

Now the owner has been granted permission to build 14 flats along with office space, a new car park and bicycle storage.

A 49-bed home for over 65s on the site closed in 2019 after a Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspection.

A report from HG2 Architects said the grounds had "fallen into serious disrepair" and, after several attempts to sell the building to another care provider, the site was bought at auction by the current owner.

Leeds City Council approved planning permission for the project, which was proposed by rental company Madison Offices.

Listed building consent was also needed for work on the building, a former country house with stables, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

'Golden opportunity'

The design report added that bringing the building back into use would help reduce anti-social behaviour in the area.

It said: “It is important to understand the wider benefits and improvements the proposals will have over the existing building.

“A golden opportunity now exists to secure the future of this historic building.”

The report said Moorfield House was among ageing care homes no longer deemed suitable by the government.

It said: “Many large purpose-built care homes have been commissioned in Leeds in recent years and it is now recognised that there is an over-supply, with new and old facilities being unable to attract enough residents to fill the available beds.”

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