Approval finally granted to convert Harrogate’s Alexa House into home

A plan to convert a Victorian guest house in Harrogate into a family home has been approved.

Alexa House on Ripon Road was sold last year for an undisclosed sum by former owner Sandra Doherty.

Ms Doherty, who owned the property for 15 years, sold the bed and breakfast after she stepped down as chief executive of Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce to retire to Northumberland.

Previous applications from Ms Doherty to convert the property were turned down.

She had previously had an application to convert the guest house into seven apartments rejected in January 2021 after Harrogate Borough Council said it would not “contribute to local distinctiveness”.

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Now, a fresh application to change the former guest house has been given the go-ahead by council officials.

The plan submitted by the Architect Design Studio Ltd on behalf of Laura Harvey includes converting the outbuildings at the property into a garage and workshop area and reducing the size of the car park.

Alexa House was built in 1896 by the renowned art collector Baron Conrad Adolphus du Bois de Ferrieres.

It was built as a hunting lodge for its London-based owners to spend time enjoying Harrogate’s spa waters and riding in the nearby countryside.

Plan to convert Harrogate’s Alexa House into family home

Plans have been submitted to convert a Victorian guest house in Harrogate into a family home.

The Alexa House on Ripon Road was sold last year for an undisclosed sum by former owner Sandra Doherty.

Mrs Doherty, who owned the property for 15 years, sold the bed and breakfast after she stepped down as chief executive of Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce to retire to Northumberland.

She had previously had an application to convert the guest house into seven apartments rejected in January 2021 after Harrogate Borough Council said it would not “contribute to local distinctiveness”.

Now a fresh proposal has been tabled to the council to convert the guest house into a family home.

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The application by the Architect Design Studio Ltd on behalf of Laura Harvey includes converting the outbuildings at the property into a garage and workshop area and reducing the size of the car park.

Harrogate Borough Council will make a decision on the proposal at a later date.

Alexa House was built in 1896 by the renowned art collector Baron Conrad Adolphus du Bois de Ferrieres.

It was built as a hunting lodge for its London-based owners to spend time enjoying Harrogate’s spa waters and riding in the nearby countryside.

Harrogate guest house to be converted into a house

Alexa Guest House in Harrogate has received planning permission to be converted into a house.

Sandra Doherty, who sold the hotel for an undisclosed sum in March, had applied to Harrogate Borough Council for permission to convert it in February.

The council has now given consent, saying in a planning document:

“Due to the presence of a large number of residential properties located within the surrounding area, the proposal would not introduce an out of character use.”

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Ms Doherty, who owned the site for 15 years, had a previous proposal to convert the hotel into seven apartments refused.

It was sold last month after being on the market for just five days. Ms Doherty said she planned to move to Northumberland to retire.

Alexa House was built in 1896 by the renowned art collector Baron Conrad Adolphus du Bois de Ferrieres.

It was built as a hunting lodge for its London-based owners to spend time enjoying Harrogate’s spa and riding in the nearby countryside.

Harrogate’s Alexa House guest house sold

The Alexa House guest house on Ripon Road has been sold and is now expected to be converted into a home.

Sandra Doherty, the owner, said the Victorian property had been on the market for just five days before a buyer was found. It was sold for an undisclosed sum.

Ms Doherty said she was “delighted” to have sold the building, which she has owned for 15 years.

She recently had an application to convert the guest house into apartments refused by Harrogate Borough Council.

She said:

“Ninety-nine per cent of my guests were lovely and I had a lot of return visitors.”

Ms Doherty will soon step down from her role as chief executive of the Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce and retire to Northumberland.

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Alexa House was built in 1896 by the renowned art collector Baron Conrad Adolphus du Bois de Ferrieres.

It was built as a hunting lodge for its London-based owners to spend time enjoying Harrogate’s spa and riding in the nearby countryside.

Plan to convert Harrogate guest house to flats

The owner of Alexa House guest house in Harrogate has submitted plans to convert the building to seven apartments.

Sandra Doherty, who is also chief executive of Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce, told the Stray Ferret she planned to retire.

Ms Doherty will, however, continue her role with the chamber. She said:

“It was falling last year and breaking both arms that finally made my mind up. That and requests for seeing my grandchildren more.

“Covid hasn’t helped as I hoped to enjoy one last year, especially with my regular guests who I have become such good friends with over the past 14 years.”

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Plans sent to Harrogate Borough Council request change of use from hotel to seven residential apartments at the site on Ripon Road.

The application also proposes to demolish existing extensions and outbuildings, create a rear extension and remodel the car park.