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Conctruction manager Stewart Loben (left) with Coun Martin Smith and Sylvia Tilford.

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An historic former mansion in the heart of a Wharfedale village is being transformed.

After years of lying empty, The Lawn, in Burley-in-Wharfedale, is at last being transformed into 29 high-quality affordable homes.

Builders moved on to the site on Monday after Bradford Community Housing Trust (BCHT) got planning permission to construct 14 one and two-bedroomed flats within the existing building. Nine of the flats will be available for sale on a shared ownership basis and five two-bedroom flats will be offered for rent.

A further 15 houses will be built on a garage and stable site next to the Lawn - which was last used to provide sheltered bedsit accommodation. These houses will be set aside for residents aged 55 years and over.

Of these, ten one and two-bedroom houses will be available for shared ownership.

The entire scheme will cost over £2.5 million and is being part-funded by the Housing Corporation. It is being built by contractors The Strategic Team Group.

A spokesman for BCHT said: "This major investment will provide much-needed affordable homes for local people and follows very positive local consultations including Burley Community Council and Burley Parish Council.

"Over half the homes will be offered for sale under shared ownership to give people a step onto the housing ladder and we also want to address the needs of older residents."

The Lawn mansion was built as a family home in the 1860s and became sheltered housing in the 1950s.

It gradually fell into disrepair during the 1990s and its bedsits became dangerously dilapidated by the time management was passed to BCHT in 2004.

In September 2005, BCHT unsuccessfully applied to convert the existing manor house into 14 apartments and build a new wing of ten homes.

The current plans have been developed following consultations with the Aire-Wharfe Local Management Trust (part of the BCHT group), Burley Parish Council and Burley Community Council, and will deliver new affordable homes in an area of high housing need.

BCHT Group Chairman Martin Smith said: "This is an important development for the village and shows our commitment to deliver affordable homes and also offer a choice of tenure."

Former parish council chairman Caroline Jones said: "This is excellent news as this housing scheme will bring back into use a well-known village property.

"New affordable homes are greatly needed in the area and this is a very welcome development."

12:26pm Sunday 18th May 2008

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