New Developments

The Acres

Leeds Rhinos Star On Hand To See Another Successful 'Conversion'

Leeds Rhinos star Danny McGuire kicked off the launch of a flagship development featuring seven luxury apartments in the heart of the city's most sought-after area.

Fresh from victory in the Rugby League World Club Championships, Danny swapped Headingley for Alwoodley to be guest of honour at the launch party held to mark the completion of the development on The Avenue.

Known as 'The Acres', the development consists of six two-bedroom apartments and a three-bedroom duplex apartment - all of which are available to let from £750 - £1,100 per month through dedicated Yorkshire letting specialists Linley & Simpson.

Nick Barrow, manager of Linley & Simpson's Oakwood branch, said: "As a key member of the Leeds team for several seasons, Danny has seen many successful conversions on the field. The launch of 'The Acres' gave him the opportunity to witness one off the field as well.

"It is an exciting development in which to be involved and - given its prime North Leeds location and high specification - is already generating a lot of interest in the rental marketplace."

The new flats are the first joint venture between Leeds landlord and developer Harinder Bains and business partner Rajeev Dhand, who is Chairman of the Leeds Pharmaceutical Committee as well as the managing director of both MediChem in Leeds and Tower Court Pharmacy in York.

With their next two projects the partners are working to combine their skills in luxury development, with local amenities and health care. They are also looking to get involved with local government initiatives to provide quality affordable accommodation for key workers and low income households.

The duo hope that the location of the apartments, coupled with the high-spec interior, will prove a prescription for success.

The modern flats are set in two neighbouring complexes on the site of a former bungalow, which was demolished to make way for the luxury development. All are finished to a high standard and boast a kitchen with fully-integrated appliances; granite work surfaces; open-plan living areas; luxury house and ensuite bathrooms; remote electric-gated entrance; secure parking; video entry systems and underfloor gas heating.

The contractors for the project were Yorkshire Homes and Development, run by Craig Harrison - another Rugby League fan and Chairman of Doncaster RL club.

The future of the deserted Bonding Warehouse, in York, has become clearer after a planning application for it to be turned into flats was handed in to council chiefs last week.

The debate over the use of the dilapidated Grade II-listed building, in Skeldergate, has been going on for more than three years - with proposals for a shopping mall and a five-star hotel among some of the schemes proposed for the riverside site.

The warehouse was dubbed "a million pound investment" by hospitality entrepreneur David Hattersley, who believed the location would satisfy York's demand for a river-fronted, high-class hotel and could have created 200 jobs.

But it is now set to be transformed into nine apartments on the upper floor, with office space on the ground floor.

Its new owner, property developer William Legard, 63, hopes to start renovation work on the site within three weeks, and aims to have the flats finished by 2009.

He plans to convert the decaying landmark into luxury flats, with an estimated asking price of £500,000, and a £1.5 million penthouse apartment on the upper two floors. He hopes to use the 5,500 sq ft of the ground floor for office space.

Mr Legard, a former farmer and estate agent, of Lowthorpe, near Driffield, bought the building for £1.151 million last month. He intends to spend £3 million on renovation work.

He said: "We now have a planning application in place, the upper floors will be luxury flats, and we have just changed the use of the ground floor into commercial use in order to rent it for offices."

"There was talk of using the ground floor for a restaurant, but with the limited amount of car parking and with the flats upstairs, I think office space would be better suited to the site."

We are hoping to begin the renovation to the Bonding Warehouse within the next two or three weeks before winter really kicks in , starting with fully replacing the roof. I am hoping the flats will be ready by 2009."

Coun Sandy Fraser, whose ward covers the Bonding Warehouse, said: "The sight of the warehouse is an eyesore at the moment, we will be looking at the plans for the proposed development, to see what is acceptable, but it will be good to see a building of that nature brought back to use."

"It could have been used for community use of a niche shopping centre, like other proposals for the site, but apartments should tidy up the warehouse's appearance from its present state."

One of the biggest sites ever to be developed in York could benefit from a huge Government funding boost.

York Central and the British Sugar site, off Boroughbridge Road - dubbed York Northwest by the council - have been included in a bid for a £300 million community regeneration fund.

Council leaders from across Yorkshire have submitted a bid to the Government for sites in the Leeds City Region - which includes York and parts of North Yorkshire - to be awarded "new growth points" (NGP) status.

This status would allow them access to funding and support for the early development of key housing and regeneration work.

A fund has been set aside by the Government specifically to get new growth points off the ground quickly.

Four key locations, each with opportunities to deliver more than 5,000 homes, have been put forward, including York Northwest. Four further, secondary locations have also been proposed.

Coun Steve Galloway, leader of City of York Council, welcomed the bid. "We are supportive of the site being established as a growth point." he said.

"It's only an expression of interest at the moment of course, but it has the advantage that not only would we qualify for access to this £300 million community regeneration fund, but we would also get preferential treatment on the allocation of resources in transport, health, education and leisure."

The bid was this week submitted to the Department for Communities and Local Government.

A spokeswoman for the Leeds City Region said NGP status had previously only been available in the South. The Government agreed to roll-out the programme to the rest of the country in July, following new national targets for housing.

"Being awarded NGP status raises the profile of areas identified as priorities for regeneration and housing development," she said. "It enables local authorities and city regions to lever in additional private and public sector investment for transport and other infrastructure support to tackle constraints hampering their early development."

The successful NGP bids are expected to be announced by the Government early next year.

Consultation on the future of the York Northwest site began on Monday, with the council distributing about 4,000 leaflets to homes adjoining the site.

Hungate 'Phase II' set for approval

Plans for commercial developments and more than 150 homes at York's landmark Hungate development will go before city councillors next week.

City of York Council's planning committee will consider an application by Hungate (York) Regeneration Ltd (HYRL) for phase two of its scheme.

The application is for 154 new apartments, and seven commercial units.

Outline planning permission has already been given for a mixed-use development on the site, but the plans going before the council next week represent a change, with an extra 400 square metres of commercial space.

Phil Darcy, managing director of Crosby Lend Lease, speaking on behalf of HYRL, said: "Work on the first phase of the new urban neighbourhood - involving a mixture of apartments and townhouses - is progressing very well with completions scheduled for late 2008."

"Off-plan sales have been particularly strong and there is considerable interest from prospective buyers visiting our on-site marketing suite."

"The second phase of the development, which is due to be considered by the City of York Council next Thursday, includes 154, one, two and three-bed apartments together with 12,000 square feet of retail and leisure space."

"The reserved matters application is in accordance with the design brief and outline planning permission granted in July 2005."

The plans refer to block E on Hungate, which is a five-storey structure near the River Foss.

The River Foss Society said the building would be too close to the river, but council officers have recommended it for approval, subject to minor details being agreed later with the council.

The report to the committee states: "Officers are content with the massing and size of the development and its external appearance (as revised), the development would provide a reasonable level amenity for its occupants and those around. The proposed river walkway and internal landscaping scheme each respect the details agreed at outline stage and the design codes and principles of the overall site. The amount of resident's and staff covered cycle parking are adequate. The amount and type of housing, including affordable accommodation, is also supported."

Housing chiefs have completed the first stage of a massive land survey in York, to identify sites for more than 18,000 new homes.

City of York Council has drawn up a list of 66 sites where new properties will, or could, be built, to help cater for the city's rising population.

The list includes 27 where planning permission has already been granted, and 39 that council officers say have potential.

Among the possible development sites are York City FC's Kit Kat Crescent home; the British Sugar site; the area around Castle Piccadilly; the council's landmark St Leondard's Place buildings; Terry's; Nestlé South; and the current Manor and Lowfield School sites.

A report to be considered by the council's local development framework working group next week predicts capacity for between 17,014 and 18,310 homes in York between 2004 and 2029.

Government predictions are that the city needs to build 18,660 in that time, but Dave Caulfield, the council's head of city development, said it was likely new sites would come available over time to plug the gap.

The next stage is for the council to carry out detailed assessment of the 39 potential sites, to calculate how many homes can be built on each.

Other landowners will also be approached in a "call for sites" to see if there are other areas that could be explored for development.

Mr Caulfield said: "This is the planning authority trying to get the best information on file regarding sites available, and put them through methodologically to see if they are suitable for housing."

"It builds up a picture of what potential there is out there."

The council's housing targets are set through the Government's regional spatial strategy. That says York should build 840 homes a year until 2008, and 850 a year thereafter.

Mr Caulfield said new sites often emerged suddenly, as in the case of the old Terry's and British Sugar Sites, and said: "We are reasonably confident that once we have been through the whole process and identified all resources we will be close to the figure."

Good Deal For Investors

Linley & Simpson have teamed up with one of Yorkshire's leading builders, Shepherd Homes, to offer a number of attractive incentives to both existing clients of the company and new investment landlords alike.

The offers are available on Shepherd Home's brand new two bedroom apartments at some of their flagship sites around Yorkshire and present an opportunity that really stacks up.

By purchasing a brand new apartment and offering it to let through Linley & Simpson, landlord's can take advantage of the following offers from the developer

• guaranteed rental income for the first 12 months
   ( subject to valuation by the agent )
• the agents letting and management fees paid for the first 12 months
• carpets and curtains inclusive
• building insurance paid for 12 months
• all maintenance and repairs covered for the first 12 months
• maintenance fee paid for 12 months.

Alternatively excellent deals are available to any landlords wishing to invest in more than one property. Prices on a two bed apartment at Yorkdale in Killingbeck, Leeds start from £119,995. The discounts start at 5% on the 2nd property purchased rising to 25% on the sixth for those landlords looking to invest in a larger portfolio.

Linley & Simpson's Oakwood Branch have already successfully let a number of two bedroom unfurnished apartments at the Yorkdale site in Leeds and have been achieving rents in the region of £525 - £575pcm. This particular site on York Road has proved very popular with young professionals and with the same offers available at Shepherd Home's sites in Woodlesford, Leeds and York College, expect demand to be high from tenants across all 3 developments.

For further details of the properties available at Yorkdale and the offers available to investment landlords please contact our Oakwood Branch on 0113 2401177 or email oakwood@linleyandsimpson.co.uk