Former Menston hospital grounds are 'at risk' (From Ilkley Gazette)

Former Menston hospital grounds are 'at risk'

9:30am Saturday 24th July 2010

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The housing developer working on Menston’s former High Royds psychiatric hospital site says it will work with English Heritage over the “at-risk” status of hospital grounds.

Ben Bailey Homes says it was not aware of the inclusion of the former hospital’s grounds in the new Heritage at Risk register drawn up by the public body, which manages the country’s historic built environment.

But the developer said it would make contact with English Heritage to ensure any issues are addressed.

At a registered park and garden at risk the grounds of the former High Royds Hospital, in Menston, have been flagged up by English Heritage as a highly vulnerable historical site.

Since the Victorian hospital’s closure in 2003, the site has been redeveloped as housing.

Ben Bailey Homes is drawing up previews of its latest work on the site, the conversion of the Grade II Listed original hospital buildings to apartments and townhouses, being marketed as Chevin Park.

The company says it is also about to begin work to restore the sports grounds, woodland and parking areas which form part of the 200-acre site.

In a statement, the developer said: “Ben Bailey Homes will shortly commence work on this area of the development to fully restore the sports grounds, woodland and parkland areas. This restoration work is in line with the approved planning consent for the development and will further benefit the local people who want to become part of the thriving community at the newly-created Chevin Park.”

The company says the former hospital grounds will eventually provide bridleways, cycle paths, tennis courts and sports pitches for residents to enjoy.

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