Victorian Burley building may be turned into affordable housing (From Wharfedale Observer)

Victorian Burley building may be turned into affordable housing

8:49am Friday 26th January 2007 in Local news By Annette McIntyre

PLANS to convert a former mansion into affordable housing could come to fruition this year if an application for funding is successful.

The Aire Wharfe Community Housing Trust is applying for funding to allow it to create affordable housing at The Lawn in Burley-in-Wharfedale with 24 properties at the once splendid home.

If its bid is successful the trust will provide a mix of accommodation to rent in the new building as well as shared ownership properties in the original building.

Details of the proposed scheme and of the funding bid were revealed at a meeting of Burley-in-Wharfedale forum.

The housing trust has already unsucessfully applied for grants for an earlier scheme. But it is hopeful that its latest decreased bid , which was submitted this month, will prove more fruitful.

A spokesman told the meeting the trust felt confident that with the support of Bradford Council and the feedback from the Housing Corporation, that their bid would be successful.

Coun Matt Palmer said that without grant money it would only be possible to provide ten units for shared equity schemes. He said the local connections policy meant that Burley residents would be offered the chance to take part in a scheme involving 24 properties - a substantial increase in the amount of affordable accommodation in the village.

The Lawn is a Victorian mansion house, which although not listed, stands in a conservation area.

It has most recently been used as accommodation for the elderly. But its dilapidated bedsits were described as 'awful' and 'potentially dangerous' by the trust which took over responsibility for the property.

The trust expects to hear soon if its application is successful, and they say they could be on site within the financial year.