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Preparatory work complete as Harrogate landmark building awaits conversion

Tuesday, 6 February 2024 17:00

The Herald Building on Montpellier Parade is set to be converted into a mix of commercial premises and apartments.

Preparatory work complete as Harrogate landmark building awaits conversion Initial work to convert one of Harrogate's most prominent buildings into apartments and commercial premises has now been completed. Elite Scaffolding (Yorkshire) Ltd has finished the temporary frame which now surrounds the Herald Building on Montpellier Parade. And construction teams now have access to the exterior of the landmark site. Elite Scaffolding (Yorkshire) Ltd’s managing director Spencer Cassidy said:

“It may seem to be a pretty routine job but Harrogate and Montpellier Parade present their own challenges. “First of all, the building is on a slope but it’s also an important facet of Harrogate’s townscape so we have to treat the site with respect and do all we can to allow shoppers and visitors access to neighbouring properties. "All of our teams are highly trained professionals but the public won’t be aware, as this is Harrogate, we also have to use a particular type of scaffold to help protect the town’s heritage. "The crews have also been briefed on the importance of allowing ‘business as usual’ around the site."
Originally constructed as hotel accommodation for visitors to the Yorkshire spa town who would “take the waters” in the mid-1800s, the three-storey building then became a hospital for “persons of small means who are permanently disqualified from the duties of life by disease, accident or deformity”. However, perhaps the Herald Building’s most famous role was as the headquarters of the local newspaper, originally established to publish the regular List of Visitors in town for the healing properties of the sulphurous spa water. The early publications inspired both the Harrogate Herald and the Harrogate Advertiser, both of which were later acquired by printer Robert Ackrill. The building was to become home to both publications for almost 90 years. The newspapers relocated to a purpose-built works at Cardale Park in the early 1990s and the ground floor of the Herald Building was acquired by the Slug & Lettuce pub chain. However, after the pub’s demise in the wake of the pandemic in May 2021, planning permission was granted a year ago to convert the building back into commercial units and residential accommodation and the scaffolding went up last week in preparation for the exterior refurbishments. Spencer Cassidy said:
“One of the pleasant aspects of working on the building is that it’s given us a view of Montpellier Parade few will have been able to enjoy for some years. “In the meantime though, we would like to assure the public that we will be doing our bit to keep any inconvenience to a minimum and to play our part in getting the job finished as soon as possible.”
The conversion plans, designed by Harrogate’s SPX Architects, were submitted to the former Harrogate Borough Council in September 2022 by developer Rushbond Plc of Leeds. Read more local stories from Your Harrogate here.

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