A planning application to demolish the former Richmond House care home in Farsley has been temporarily withdrawn by the council – only four weeks after they were submitted.
As previously reported by WLD, the home closed last year due to Leeds City Council budget cuts. It’s planned to clear the site for redevelopment, potentially for local authority housing.
The withdrawal is down to a delay with a bat survey going ahead as originally planned on 1 September. The bat survey is a required element of the planning process and the application has been withdrawn temporarily until this has been completed. The application will then be submitted with all relevant information included.
Cllr Peter Carlill (Lab, Calverley & Farsley) told WLD: “The plan is still to continue to explore the site for council housing, and I am strongly supportive of this as something that is urgently required in our community.“
WLD first reported the demolition application last month and applicant Leeds City Council stated at the time: “The demolition of the building will mitigate the ongoing operational costs of holding the property, including security and maintenance costs, whilst also reducing the risk of anti-social behaviour which disused buildings can often attract. Whilst it is acknowledged that re-use of the building would be preferable to demolition, following an options appraisal process there are no alternative uses identified.”
Richmond House was a 20-bed residential service in Richmond Road. It offered short-term care and support to people who require convalescence following a hospital admission. Council officers last year said average occupancy since 2018/19 was 55 per cent and its gross budget was £742,000.
The plans can be viewed in full here.
The closures have previously sparked a fierce political debate.
Follow WLD‘s ongoing coverage of Richmond House closure here.
West Leeds Dispatch‘s Cutswatch series has been following council cuts here.
Follow WLD’s ongoing coverage of the Richmond House closure here.
