York- mental health unit sold for six-bed home conversion

City of York Council has agreed the sale of 22, The Avenue, in Clifton, for an undisclosed sum after plans for its conversion were first lodged in November.

A council report on the decision stated the building had stood vacant since the unit closed in 2019 due to it no longer being suitable for operational use.

The latest plans for the conversion stated the conversion was an opportunity to return the building to its original use as a home.

The council’s decision to sell the property comes after initial plans to change its use to a flexible residential dwelling were approved in January.

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Detailed plans setting out how the building will be converted, subject to further council approval, were lodged in June.

The building was originally constructed as a home in around 1920.

Plans stated the outside of the building was currently suffering from a number of poor quality repairs and piecemeal alterations made during its previous use.

They added alterations including a concrete ramp, poor quality pebbledash render, and the blocking up of doors had detracted from the character of the building and would be removed.

Renovations proposed in the plans include creating a new front entrance with a bigger porch.

An impression showing how a former mental health unit in The Avenue, Clifton, York, could look following its conversion (Image: Brown and Company)

A dropped kerb would also be added to create access for vehicles which would be subject to a separate planning application.

A ground floor extension would also house a new dining room and study linked by a glazed corridor.

Works at the back of the building include the creation of a new contemporary dormer, a skylight and new openings connecting to the garden.

Plans stated the design of the building had been informed by buildings in the surrounding area.

They stated: “The proposed development presents an opportunity to reverse a number of unsympathetic modern alterations to the building, significantly enhance its visual appearance on this attractive historic street, and restore both its historic architectural character and its use as a residential dwelling.

“Carefully considered modern interventions have been incorporated as part of these proposals detailed within this report, to bring the building up to contemporary standards and make it suitable for family occupation.”