SecretLeeds - History, culture and architecture in Leeds

Here's something i know will interest Chameleon.The East Leeds Historical society are doing an article about Seacroft grange in there next magazine. I've let them use my pictures for it.Apparently there is a 3rd developer now trying to get plans passed for the place.Anyway anyone wanting to get a copy of the magazine can find out details at the E.L.H.A.S website herehttp://www.elhas.org.uk/I believe a copy of the magazine can also be purchased in Headingley library? I think Tasa knows more about that tho.

Phill_dvsn wrote: Here's something i know will interest Chameleon.The East Leeds Historical society are doing an article about Seacroft grange in there next magazine. I've let them use my pictures for it.Apparently there is a 3rd developer now trying to get plans passed for the place.Anyway anyone wanting to get a copy of the magazine can find out details at the E.L.H.A.S website herehttp://www.elhas.org.uk/I believe a copy of the magazine can also be purchased in Headingley library? I think Tasa knows more about that tho. Thanks for that Phill. The first developer as we know, was Asda St James who were supposed to renovate come develop The Grange along with the new Seacroft Centre but the contract was rather weak and provided ways of avoiding this. At least one further proposal was accepted (I believe after much deliberation) to construct a small housing development including the 'affordable homes' and convert the Grange. Hardly the best possible option but at least it would have seen something happen to help the old place. This fell through sadly I understand, because of the proposed developer becoming very ill.Every attempt to now to stimulate movement from the Council either directly with the appropriate departments or through the local Councilor have met with a seemingly endless bout of people abiding and being run by nothing more than protocol and procedure - and of course producing little of practical value as we see all around us with these precious buildings.    

Well i've seen what the proposal is but won't say as it will spoil the magazine article.Fingers crossed there will hopefully be more substance to this one.It's worth having a look at the East Leeds magazine.Work needs to start on that place real quick.. It's in a bad way.    

This is were you can get copies of magazines.http://www.elhas.org.uk/publications.htm

Phill_dvsn wrote: Well i've seen what the proposal is but won't say as it will spoil the magazine article.Fingers crossed there will hopefully be more substance to this one.It's worth having a look at the East Leeds magazine.Work needs to start on that place real quick.. It's in a bad way.     You know, the interested and 'concerned' Councilor resident in Alwoodley and rather averse to electronic communications, together with the Planning Department undertook to keep us abreast of any new propoals for the site. Guess what? Not a dicky-bird. No surprise there then, demonstrates the pervading attitude I think.

chameleon wrote: Phill_dvsn wrote: Well i've seen what the proposal is but won't say as it will spoil the magazine article.Fingers crossed there will hopefully be more substance to this one.It's worth having a look at the East Leeds magazine.Work needs to start on that place real quick.. It's in a bad way.     You know, the interested and 'concerned' Councilor resident in Alwoodley and rather averse to electronic communications, together with the Planning Department undertook to keep us abreast of any new propoals for the site. Guess what? Not a dicky-bird. No surprise there then, demonstrates the pervading attitude I think. And perhaps the reason they choose to remain discrete is the nature of the Planning Applications which have apeared on this week's list - I presume there are no others. Couldn't be further removed from the implied intenetions all those years ago. Although I have not had opportunity to see any drawings, '...demolish (listed) stable building and errect two 3 storey extensions' in it's place does not sit well

Oh dear. That isn't sounding too good is it?

Hope I'm not repeating something that has been said earlier, but in today's Y.P. there is an article about turning the Hall into a care home and returning the saved staircase to its former glory.

Dalehelms wrote: Hope I'm not repeating something that has been said earlier, but in today's Y.P. there is an article about turning the Hall into a care home and returning the saved staircase to its former glory. That's the one Dalehelms, Phill drew attention to the fact another application had gone in.I have quite mixed feeling about this, in one way, such a use should ensure a respect for what remains of the building - certainly more than other proposals to convert to appartments and surround it with small clostrophobic dwellings which could bring their own problems to a site like this.But then the application does include a request to demolish and replace some of the out buildings with new structures, doubtless 'functional' in their purpose. I wonder how much regard new build will have for the heritage it will surround.That the staircase survives is commendable - there have been doubts about it's safety and integrity in recent times.Comendable too is that the developers undertook a consultation process, less commendable is that a wider audience was unaware of this until the deal was done - I am not alone in having long-standing ties with the village and would have appreciated the opportunity to hear first-hand of the proposals and for that I would thank Cnllr Selby, had he lived upto expectations and forwarded the progress reports we had expected telling of this development in a very long saga.Such a shame the place has been left so long to suffer so much.    

I saw the article and in this age of "elf and safety" and the DDA, I doubt very much that we'll see the developer actually spend the money required to reinstate the historic staircase, on top of all the other work that will be required.I'd be glad to be proved wrong.The council should never have been allowed to close what was a valuable local resource - I'd bet they'd never have gotten away with it in some of the leafier suburbs.