(Image: Auction House West Yorkshire)
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The long-standing saga of a derelict listed building in a Bradford nature reserve has taken a new twist.
For years the Grade II listed Mansion House in the St Ives Estate in Bingley has stood empty, and suffered from vandalism and arson.
The building is owned by Bradford Council, but Vision Home Group is the current tenant on the building, holding a long lease for the property.
What's the new twist?
The St Ives Mansion House (Image: T&A)
Now the lease for the building – which lasts until 2119 – has been listed for sale at an online property auction with a guide price of £185,000.
The auction listing describes it as a building “sure to whet the appetite of any developer looking for a real project.”
And one local councillor feels “very significant investment” would be needed to bring the property back into use.
The auction listing also shows the grim state of the inside of the grand building after years of trespass incidents, with a swastika daubed on a fireplace in one room and a racial slur written on a wall in another.
Inside the derelict and fire damaged St Ives Mansion (Auction House West Yorkshire) (Image: Auction House West Yorkshire)
Building hit by huge fire
In 2024, the derelict mansion house was badly damaged in a huge fire.
The incident brought renewed concern over the building’s future.
The building had previously been used as a care home before shutting in 2016.
Bradford Council is the freeholder of the estate and the mansion house.
In August 1994, a lease was granted to Bradford Independent (St Ives Nursing Home) Ltd. for 125 years.
This lease was assigned to Shay Capital Ltd in 2019 and from them to Vision Home Group Ltd in November 2021 who are the current lessee.
Inside the derelict and fire damaged St Ives Mansion (Auction House West Yorkshire) (Image: Auction House West Yorkshire)
What the current lessee has said
Vision had planned to convert the building into flats, but in a statement earlier this year the company said it planned to reopen the mansion house as a care home with a £2 million investment.
It read: “After careful review, Vision Home Group has made the decision to revert the building back to its original intended use as a high-quality residential and respite care centre.
“St Ives Mansion is an iconic building that holds significant value to the local community.
“Over the years, due to planning delays and setbacks, the property has remained unoccupied.
“We are increasingly concerned that the longer the building stands empty, the greater the risk of deterioration and damage.”
Inside the derelict and fire damaged St Ives Mansion (Auction House West Yorkshire) (Image: Auction House West Yorkshire)
Building 'sure to whet the appetite of any developer'
The auction listing, by Auction House West Yorkshire, says: “This stunning Grade II Listed former care home premises is sure to whet the appetite of any developer looking for a real project.
“It provides and estimated gross internal floor area of approximately 2,232 sq m (25,000 sq ft) and is considered suitable for a wide variety of uses including, residential, office, hotel, wedding venue, subject to the necessary consents being obtained.
“The mansion comprises a former 48 bedroom care home facility arranged over ground, first and second floors.
"Externally the site also includes a substantial car parking area, gardens and a paddock.
“We regret that due to significant vandalism, fire and water damage on site, no internal viewings will be available prior to the auction.”
The auction takes place on October 21.
'Very significant investment will be needed'
Discussing the sale, Councillor Geoff Winnard (Cons, Bingley West) said: “This is an interesting development and suggests that the current leaseholders were not serious about plans, which emerged last year, to develop the site into a new care home.
“It’s crucial important that anybody who buys the remaining lease for the St Ives Mansion House is an appropriate tenant with the commitment and importantly sources of investment available to develop the site in a way consistent with its heritage status.
“Though the guide price is low, very significant investment will be needed to restore the property and bring it back into use.
“My understanding is that Bradford Council, as the owner of the freehold, would need to be satisfied any that any potential purchaser is suitable to take this on.
“It might be that Bradford Council themselves consider taking the property back under their temporary ownership for them to undertake a more strategic assessment of the feasibility of the ways forward for the Mansion House.
“I will be seeking answers urgently from Bradford Council on what their longer-term plans are for the oversight of this important heritage asset.”
What Bradford Council has said
A Bradford Council spokesperson said: “The council have been made aware of the tenant’s proposals to sell their long leasehold interest in St Ives Mansion at auction.
“On going discussions as to the future of the mansion, including its reinstatement, will continue with the tenant and the council will monitor any sale.
“Should a new tenant take over the lease then the council will clearly detail their responsibilities under the terms of the lease to them and seek clarity as to their intentions and plans, taking appropriate action to enforce the terms of the lease if need be.”
The Telegraph & Argus has contacted Vision Home Group for a comment.