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‘Quality’ plan for the Bonding Warehouse

9:38am Tuesday 3rd July 2007

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TEN luxury 500,000 flats and a stylish new restaurant are part of the multi-million pound plans of a landmark York building's new owner.

Property developer William Legard, 63, who bought the Bonding Warehouse in a £1.151 million sale at the end of last month, has revealed to The Press his vision for the derelict riverside building.

The former farmer and estate agent, of Lowthorpe, near Driffield, said he intended to spend 3 million converting the Grade II listed building.

Mr Legard, who is the brother of Sir Charles Legard, owner of Scampston Hall, near Malton, said: "The top two floors will be turned into between eight and ten luxury apartments and I would be looking for at least half-a-million pounds for each.

"They will be very large and roomy and they'll all have fabulous river views. I would be offering probably the most expensive and highest quality apartments in York.

"On the ground floor, I'm open to the market. There's 5,500 square feet available and I would consider either commercial use or something like a restaurant.

"I would favour a reasonably quiet user because I have to consider the residents living in the upper floor apartments."

But before the father-of-two can begin any building work, he will need full planning permission from the council.

He said: "My initial plans are to save the building because its fabric condition is appalling and if it was to go through another winter, or floods, then we would lose it.

"I'm going to replace the roof and tank the ground floor to prevent water getting into the building and I'm also hoping to put in a footbridge, which would provide access to the building even when the river floods.

Mr Legard, a church organist and member of the Yorkshire Historic Churches Trust, told The Press he hoped the conversion work would be completed within two years.

He said: "It will be wrapped in scaffolding for nearly a year, but when it comes out you will see a transformed building, with clean brickwork, a new roof and all the windows done up.

"Essentially it will look exactly the same, but it will have a nice glisten about it, rather than the look of a derelict building.

"I intend to have a big party and reception to invite everyone to have a look and I hope people will be living here within two years."

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bouldermonkey, York says...
9:55am Tue 3 Jul 07

Havent we got enough expensive luxury apartments in York already? How about some more cheap affordable 1 and 2 bedroom studio flats for first time buyers. All these luxury flats do is add to the problems by further driving up prices of property in the city.

C'mon council, use your brains... do something for the normal people who live here for once will ya!

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SilverSurfer, Surfing says...
10:01am Tue 3 Jul 07

C'mon bouldermonkey - are you trying to drive out all the millionaires? York wouldn't be the same without plastic terry!

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bouldermonkey, York says...
10:03am Tue 3 Jul 07

LOL. Im not trying to drive out the millionaires at all, but consider this - if the normal folk cant afford to live here, who'll man the shops, work in cafe's, restraunts... who'll sweep the streets, or drive the busses, in short.. without the ordinary folk, you havent GOT a city. It's about time there was some real affordable housing for the professional hard working first time buyers amongst our midst.

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SilverSurfer, Surfing says...
10:11am Tue 3 Jul 07

I'm on your side! I think the CoYC is only happy when it's selling the working peeps down the Swanee (or the Ousie!).

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Romper Stomper, York says...
10:27am Tue 3 Jul 07

I don't think you should be lookin at grade II listed buildings for your affordable housing. There definitely needs to be more affordable and council houses built but that's not gonna happen in the middle of town in a listed building.

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monkeytennis, york says...
10:37am Tue 3 Jul 07

But before the father-of-two can begin any building work, he will need full planning permission from the council.

no doubt he will have already lined some pockets of this corrupt council.

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Monkey, Newcastle says...
11:04am Tue 3 Jul 07

"On the ground floor, I'm open to the market. There's 5,500 square feet available and I would consider either commercial use or something like a restaurant."
Perhaps a duckpond would be the best bet? Who in their right mind would want to set up shop there- I doubt it would be that easy to get insurance either...

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monkeytennis, york says...
11:05am Tue 3 Jul 07

maybe somebody could set up a scuba dive school.

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SilverSurfer, Surfing says...
11:08am Tue 3 Jul 07

I like the idea of taking a tank to the ground floor!

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bouldermonkey, York says...
11:10am Tue 3 Jul 07

Romper Stomper wrote:
I don't think you should be lookin at grade II listed buildings for your affordable housing. There definitely needs to be more affordable and council houses built but that's not gonna happen in the middle of town in a listed building.
good point, well made.

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ah shuddupayaface, York says...
11:29am Tue 3 Jul 07

monkeytennis wrote:
But before the father-of-two can begin any building work, he will need full planning permission from the council. no doubt he will have already lined some pockets of this corrupt council.
I presume you have proof of these wild accusations monkeytennis.

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oli4uk, York says...
11:29am Tue 3 Jul 07

Why does York need more Council Housing, the estates we have are already a hive of chavs.

Could do with some housing thats a little cheaper, im working two jobs at the moment to pay the bills and go out regularly, its the price you have to pay to live ina city that is comparitively nice compared to others in the area.

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Jimbob, York says...
11:39am Tue 3 Jul 07

TEN luxury 500,000 flats


£! you t*t!

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bouldermonkey, York says...
11:40am Tue 3 Jul 07

ah shuddupayaface wrote:
monkeytennis wrote: But before the father-of-two can begin any building work, he will need full planning permission from the council. no doubt he will have already lined some pockets of this corrupt council.
I presume you have proof of these wild accusations monkeytennis.
Jesus man, just look at the Barbican Deal if you want confirmation of just how corrupt the council are.

You dont need proof - its common public knowledge they're corrupt:

Scandals to date:

1) Barbican Centre
2) Arclight Centre

the list can continue....

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Monkey, Newcastle says...
11:40am Tue 3 Jul 07

I don't think anyone suggested it should be council housing though did they oli4uk? Building more affordable housing is a different issue to building more council estates. I really don't think that two jobs should be necessary to survive- fair enough if you want to be out on the lash all the time, but just to buy a house? My fiance and I moved up here, largely in order to be able to afford to get on the housing ladder. We live in a much nicer area and a much nicer house than we could ever have afforded to buy in York- it's a shame that people born and bred in York feel they have to move away, just so some rich commuter from Leeds can have a flash pad!

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monkeytennis, york says...
11:49am Tue 3 Jul 07

ah shuddupayaface wrote:
monkeytennis wrote: But before the father-of-two can begin any building work, he will need full planning permission from the council. no doubt he will have already lined some pockets of this corrupt council.
I presume you have proof of these wild accusations monkeytennis.
why do i need proof..these are my thoughts...and im allowed to share my thoughts on here...is that ok with you?

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Jason, says...
11:56am Tue 3 Jul 07

I would like a nice cheap pad on the river. The reality is that is never going to happen. Get real. The only way affordable housing will be possible is by building in scummy areas, building on green belt land that is released by the council or a trust at no charge or if someone else picks the bill up for cleaning brown field sites.

Affordable housing is a myth as is socialism.


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jaycee, york says...
12:16pm Tue 3 Jul 07

Come on everyone.Its a done deal.Galloway must be rubbing his hands.What council is going to turn down the chance of 10 top banded council payers as opposed to the rest of us ? Someone has to top up those 'gold plated ' pensions.

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Monkey, Newcastle says...
12:32pm Tue 3 Jul 07

Jason wrote:
I would like a nice cheap pad on the river. The reality is that is never going to happen. Get real. The only way affordable housing will be possible is by building in scummy areas, building on green belt land that is released by the council or a trust at no charge or if someone else picks the bill up for cleaning brown field sites. Affordable housing is a myth as is socialism.
Get a boat?
To be honest I don't think that the affordable house argument warrants a place in this thread, the Bondage Whorehouse was never going to be cheap affordable accommodation (unless the Council had given it to Arclight). It's just something that gets my goat so I went off on one!
I don't agree that it should only be sh1tty areas that are affordable for people to buy though. I'd be quite cross about paying £120K+ to live next door to someone who rented their house dirt cheap off the council

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ah shuddupayaface, York says...
12:39pm Tue 3 Jul 07

monkeytennis wrote:
ah shuddupayaface wrote:
monkeytennis wrote: But before the father-of-two can begin any building work, he will need full planning permission from the council. no doubt he will have already lined some pockets of this corrupt council.
I presume you have proof of these wild accusations monkeytennis.
why do i need proof..these are my thoughts...and im allowed to share my thoughts on here...is that ok with you?
It is fine for you to share your thoughts , as its fine for me to question them.

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ah shuddupayaface, York says...
12:45pm Tue 3 Jul 07

Monkey wrote:
Jason wrote: I would like a nice cheap pad on the river. The reality is that is never going to happen. Get real. The only way affordable housing will be possible is by building in scummy areas, building on green belt land that is released by the council or a trust at no charge or if someone else picks the bill up for cleaning brown field sites. Affordable housing is a myth as is socialism.
Get a boat? To be honest I don't think that the affordable house argument warrants a place in this thread, the Bondage Whorehouse was never going to be cheap affordable accommodation (unless the Council had given it to Arclight). It's just something that gets my goat so I went off on one! I don't agree that it should only be sh1tty areas that are affordable for people to buy though. I'd be quite cross about paying £120K+ to live next door to someone who rented their house dirt cheap off the council
Actually thats a load of c%*p. I was on the affordable housing scheme and was offered a flat on Skeldergate a couple of years ago .
Also have a look down Heworth Green, or Walmgate, or Hungate, all new affordable schemes, not in scummy areas.

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bouldermonkey, York says...
2:30pm Tue 3 Jul 07

£120K+????

Jesus.. where do you get property for £120k in york these days?

My tatty 2 bed 2 up 2 down mid terraced in Clifton has recently been valued at £150+!!!!!

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Captain Jack Sparrow, Strensall says...
3:31pm Tue 3 Jul 07

Well I've just bought the land next to the Bonding Warehouse and I can tell you that I'm planning to build a nice Gypsy camp there and sewerage treatment works there.

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JCA, York says...
3:46pm Tue 3 Jul 07

"On the ground floor, I'm open to the market. There's 5,500 square feet available and I would consider either commercial use or something like a restaurant.


How about...

The Bondage Whorehouse...

Any takers?

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bouldermonkey, York says...
3:52pm Tue 3 Jul 07

JCA wrote:
"On the ground floor, I'm open to the market. There's 5,500 square feet available and I would consider either commercial use or something like a restaurant.
How about... The Bondage Whorehouse... Any takers?
Sounds good to me!


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Monkey, Newcastle says...
4:10pm Tue 3 Jul 07

JCA wrote:
"On the ground floor, I'm open to the market. There's 5,500 square feet available and I would consider either commercial use or something like a restaurant.
How about... The Bondage Whorehouse... Any takers?
That's funny that, kind of like it was funny when I cracked the same gag above ;-)

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JCA, York says...
4:20pm Tue 3 Jul 07

OOOPS...

Sorry Monkey, I didn't notice your column...

I suppose it must be true what they say about humour...

It's all in the presentation!

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Monkey, Newcastle says...
4:44pm Tue 3 Jul 07

JCA wrote:
OOOPS... Sorry Monkey, I didn't notice your column... I suppose it must be true what they say about humour... It's all in the presentation!
lol. I can't believe you didn't notice my column though...
and other such 70s stylee innuendo

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JCA, York says...
6:16pm Tue 3 Jul 07

lol. I can't believe you didn't notice my column though...
and other such 70s stylee innuendo


oooer...

I may have let your column slip by but I couldn't help but notice your crack!...

Not a pretty sight!

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cammylenard, leeds says...
2:37pm Tue 10 Jul 07

Hey - you guys must have a boring life!

I have already put a deposit down subject to planning and cant wait to move in to my new pad!!

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Sallyanne, York says...
2:48pm Tue 10 Jul 07

I think you MONKEY boys are the most jealous people in York - are you being so negative regarding this exciting oppertunity simply because you cannot afford to live there?
Green is not a good colour for grown men!!

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oli4uk, York says...
3:58pm Mon 30 Jul 07

Affordable housing is just as bad as council housing as it is the same kind of people who end up getting them.

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