Chartford Homes, the established Leeds based family house builder with a proud record of creating places and building homes where people love to live, have worked in partnership with Pullans on projects ranging from 12 to 155 new build homes
Latest Completed Project
Cookridge Reimagined: From Historic Hospital to Thriving Community
Our largest project with Chartford Homes to date, where Pullans are providing land and development funding plus management support for the project, transforming the 10-acre former Cookridge Hospital site.
Twenty years after its closure, the former Cookridge Hospital has been reborn. What was once a derelict landmark on Leeds’ Heritage at Risk Register is now a thriving neighbourhood – a collaboration between Chartford Homes and J Pullan & Sons that blends heritage, housing, and heart.
A Landmark Transformed
Set on a 19.5-acre wooded hillside six miles from Leeds city centre, Cookridge Hospital was a place rich in history and complexity. When the hospital closed in 2007 after more than a century of care, its grand Victorian buildings, including four listed structures, fell into neglect.
In 2010, after a national housebuilder withdrew in the wake of the financial crisis, local developers Chartford Homes and J Pullan & Sons joined forces in a Joint Venture as Chartford Arthington to take on the site. Their shared vision was to preserve the heritage while creating a place where people could live, learn, and thrive.
Restoring the Heart of Cookridge
Before construction began, the team undertook a meticulous process to remove 1960’s extensions, revealing the timeless beauty and craftsmanship of the original 19th-century buildings.
The redevelopment combined restoration with regeneration: saving heritage assets while delivering much-needed housing and care facilities. The outcome is a beautifully integrated landscape where woodland walks, parkland, and historic architecture come together to form a distinct sense of place.
Heritage with a Human Touch
Each phase of the project tells its own story of community purpose:
The Arthington Wing, now the Lighthouse School, provides a calm and inspiring setting for children with autism – a shining example of educational inclusivity.
The Ida Wing, reimagined by Housing & Care 21, offers award-winning Extra Care housing for older residents – combining Victorian charm with modern comfort.
The Main Hospital Building, the most complex restoration has been converted into affordable homes for social rent and shared ownership town houses, managed by Stonewater Housing Association.
Surrounding these historic buildings are 159 new homes delivered by Chartford Homes – elegant, energy-efficient family properties that complete the community. This included 12 new build apartments for Leeds and Yorkshire Housing.
The development delivers a total of 106 affordable homes across the site, in partnership with Housing and Care 21, Stonewater, and Leeds & Yorkshire Housing Association. The scheme offers a mix of tenures, helping to address the shortage of affordable housing in the Leeds area and fostering an inclusive community.
The result is a diverse and connected neighbourhood that serves multiple generations – a true reflection of Cookridge’s enduring civic spirit.
