Graeme Lee Archives - The Stray Ferret

Luxury Harrogate care home under new ownershipHarrogate care home owner “absolutely delighted” after Grove House conversion approved

The owner of Harrogate’s Grove House has said he is “absolutely delighted” after planners finally gave the go-ahead to convert the grade two listed building into a luxury care facility.

Graeme Lee, chief executive of Springfield Healthcare, bought Grove House for £3 million in 2019 and then spent five years working on plans to transform it into what he calls “the holy grail of care”.

North Yorkshire Council finally granted approval this month, which means the former home of Harrogate mayor, inventor and philanthropist Samson Fox will be converted into a care home consisting of 24 flats. In addition, a 62-bed care home and eight houses providing supported living for over-65s will be built on adjoining land.

Mr Lee, whose company already owns seven care homes, including Harcourt Gardens in Harrogate and the Chocolate Works in York, said:

“I’m absolutely delighted that after a five-year journey we can now bring to life what I believe is going to be the most innovative and unique intergenerational care scheme.

“When we did Chocolate Works I wondered how we would top that. But this will.

“Grove House will be restored to its former glory. The building, which has lots of leaks, will be given some TLC. The grand hall and billiards room will remain. We will bring it back to life and reforge the spirit of Samson Fox.”

Mr Lee admitted there were doubts about whether the scheme would go ahead because of the length of the planning process. He added the cost had risen from £15 million to £20 million due to inflation and the cost of living increase.

An artist’s impression of part of the new care facility.

An aerial view showing Grove House opposite the fire station on Skipton Road.

Mr Lee, who lives in Harrogate, said he hoped to appoint a contractor — probably Simpsons of York, which undertook Harcourt Gardens and the Chocolate Works — by spring and then begin work in summer. He added the scheme would be built in phases, with a planned opening date of summer 2026.

The six-acre site, which has been unused for years, will host an annual community day and be used widely by pupils at nearby Grove Road Community Primary School.Children will hold lessons on site and build relationships with residents with dementia to make the project a pioneering multi-generational scheme, Me Lee said.

They will also be able to track wildlife such as foxes and badgers on site through hidden cameras and use a new wildlife pond for study.

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£15m bid to transform Harrogate’s Grove House into care home approved

A £15 million transformation of Harrogate’s Grove House into a major new care home and community facility has finally been approved.

Grove House, a grade two listed building opposite the fire station on Skipton Road, was the home of Victorian inventor, philanthropist and mayor Samson Fox.

It was later used as a hospital during the First World War and as the headquarters of the Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes.

Harrogate’s Graeme Lee, chief executive of Springfield Healthcare, bought the six-acre site from the Buffaloes for more than £3m in 2017.

Samson Fox lived at Grove House.

Plans were submitted five years ago to create what Mr Lee calls “the holy grail of care”, combining high quality facilities for residents with extensive community use.

Now, after a lengthy planning process, North Yorkshire Council has published a decision notice approving the application, subject to conditions.

It means Grove House can undergo extensive conversion work to create a care home consisting of 24 flats. In addition, a 62-bed care home and eight houses providing supported living for over-65s will be built on land alongside Grove House.

How the site will look.

An aerial view of the site.

Grove House, which is hidden from traffic on Skipton Road, has stood derelict for years.

Talking about the project last year, Mr Lee said schoolchildren from nearby Grove Road Community Primary School will be invited to participate in activities alongside residents and use the gardens for study and play, and the site would also host an annual garden party for the community.

He said it would become “one of the best examples of developing relationships between older people and young people in the UK”.

Mr Lee’s company already owns seven care homes, including Harcourt Gardens in Harrogate,

Green light expected soon on £15m plan to transform historic Harrogate building

Plans to transform one of Harrogate’s most historic buildings into a care home and community facility are expected to finally be approved shortly.

Grove House on Skipton Road was the home of Victorian inventor, philanthropist and mayor Samson Fox.

The grade two listed building later became a First World War hospital and the headquarters of the Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes until care home owner Graeme Lee bought it for £3 million four years ago.

Mr Lee, chief executive of Springfield Healthcare, wants to invest £15 million to create what he calls “the holy grail of care”.

Under the plans, Grove House will be converted to accommodate 23 independent living apartments. A 70-bed care home and eight houses providing supported living for over-65s will be built on land alongside it.

An artist’s impression of how part of the scheme would look.

Mr Lee, whose company owns seven care homes, including Harcourt Gardens in Harrogate, had hoped to begin work this spring but planning permission has still to be granted.

However, he told the Stray Ferret he believed he was now “very close” to securing consent after working through a series of conditions agreed with planning officers at North Yorkshire Council.

He said:

“These are the final mashings of a four-year journey that has been tortuous and difficult with covid among the many hoops we have had to jump through.”

Mr Lee said he had been asked to provide further information about biodiversity and he expected this to be resolved in September.

If this happens, work on the ground could begin in April and the home could open in autumn 2025.

Mr Lee said the building was deteriorating due to the delays and it cost tens of thousands of pounds a year to maintain the site. He added:

“I felt like it was so close last year and it’s just been slowness and delays and wanting another report but we are nearly there.”

Grove House was Victorian philanthropist Samson Fox’s home.

Schoolchildren from nearby Grove Road Community Primary School use the gardens for outdoor activities and there are wider plans for the site to be used to bring together residents, young people and the local community.

Mr Lee said:

“It’s an amazing opportunity to create an intergenerational care community that will be nationally recognised. It’s something unique for Harrogate.”

Trevor Watson, assistant director for planning at the council, said:

“The application is not in position to be determined at this stage as we are awaiting further information that has been requested from the applicant.

“Once that is received it will be determined by officers in accordance with our scheme of delegation.

“No referral request to send the application to committee has been made by councillors.”

Decision due on plans to revive historic Harrogate building

Ambitious plans to transform one of Harrogate’s most historic buildings into a care home and community facility look set to be determined within weeks.

Grove House, a grade two listed building off Skipton Road, was the home of Victorian inventor, philanthropist and mayor Samson Fox.

Harrogate businessman Graeme Lee, chief executive of Springfield Healthcare, bought the disused six-acre site four years ago for more than £3m.

Mr Lee plans to convert Grove House into 23 independent living apartments and build a 70-bed care home and eight houses providing supported living for over-65s on land alongside it.

How the 70-bed facility alongside Grove House will look.

He also wants to host an annual garden party for locals and let schoolchildren from nearby Grove Road Community Primary School participate in activities alongside residents and use the gardens for study and play as part of his vision for a new type of inter-generational and community care facility.

After months of delays in the planning process, Mr Lee said he was expecting a decision in the next month or two. He added:

“This a great opportunity for the council to bring this gem of a building back to life. The history around it is amazing.

“It will be brilliant for the community and would be a great way of honouring Samson Fox’s legacy.”

An artist’s impression of how Grove House would look.

It would be Springfield Healthcare’s eighth care home in northern England and second in Harrogate.

Mr Lee, whose company employs 1,600 staff, said he hoped work would start in autumn or winter and be completed by September 2025.

He said:

“The quicker we can get this under development the better. Grove House is deteriorating at a rapid rate and it would be a travesty if it didn’t happen.”

Free heritage days revealed for Harrogate

People will get a rare opportunity to explore Grove House, the former home of Samson Fox, during next month’s Heritage Open Days.

The historic house, off Skipton Road, is one of 23 heritage sites in Harrogate opening their doors for free from Friday 9 to Sunday 18 September for free open days.

It is part of a national scheme celebrating history and culture that enables people to see places that are often closed to the public.

Sponsored by Harrogate Spring Water and coordinated by the Harrogate Civic Society, this year’s festival includes guided tours, talks and music recitals.

There will be the chance to discover Harrogate’s spa history at the Royal Pump Room Museum, explore the Royal Hall, Harrogate library and The Harrogate Club, join a tour of Harrogate Theatre, climb a tower, or take part in one of four different heritage walks.

Seven religious sites will be open, some with special music recitals or talks, and there are tours at Stonefall Cemetery. Plus a castle, a well, a heritage centre, and even a council chamber to explore.

The opening of Grove House and its gardens is one of this year’s new features.

Graeme Lee, chief executive at Springfield Healthcare, which owns the house, has plans to transform the site into a new care project.

Mr Lee said:

“We’re delighted to be part of Harrogate’s Heritage Open Days and share the remarkable heritage of Grove House, the former home of Samson Fox, Harrogate’s famous engineering inventor, benefactor, and mayor.

“When I bought the building I knew we had a unique opportunity to restore this beautiful Grade II listed house and grounds into high quality retirement apartments and a luxury care home for the community, whilst safeguarding the property’s rich heritage.

“We’re looking forward to opening our doors to showcase one of Harrogate’s oldest buildings, share stories of its past and the exciting plans for the future.”

‘Most varied programme for years’

Stuart Holland, chair of Harrogate Civic Society, said:

“This year’s Heritage Open Days programme in Harrogate is the most varied and
interesting for some years, with a fascinating mix of the town’s historical, cultural, civic and religious sites to explore.

“The Harrogate Civic Society helps to coordinate participation by local venues in this festival, but all the hard work is done by the volunteers who open the doors, host the tours, and welcome their visitors. They all deserve our thanks.”

Richard Hall, managing director at Harrogate Spring Water, said:

“At Harrogate Spring Water, we have always been immensely proud to continue Harrogate’s rich legacy. From the town’s Victorian spa town heritage to its status today as a hub of culture and hospitality, we are delighted to lend our support to the 2022 Harrogate Heritage Open Days.”

Heritage Open Days, which is England’s largest festival of history and culture, is presented by the National Trust with support from players of People’s Postcode Lottery.

Hot Seat: The Harrogate man leading the way in luxury care

When Graeme Lee was in his mid-20s, he organised a holiday for 24 people in two chalets in France. Tragically, two of them died on the trip.

Devastated, he took a year off from his job as a senior manager at Marks & Spencer. His sabbatical drifted into a second year until it ended abruptly when his mother fell ill and he rushed home to be with her. Within four weeks she was dead.

Thirty years on, Mr Lee is one of Harrogate’s most successful businessmen. His company Springfield Healthcare has six care homes, a £30m turnover and 1,500 staff, including domiciliary care. It wasn’t university or education that forged him, but those early losses.

He says:

“They were two of the most traumatic things that have ever happened to me.

“I can’t tell you how responsible I felt for what happened on the holiday. One of the girls wasn’t going to go and I lent her the money.

“Those two years away transformed me. I learned a lot about the meaning of life.”

It has been some journey. Mr Lee grew up in a small care home his mum and dad owned in Garforth, West Yorkshire, regularly moving bedrooms to accommodate residents and watching TV with them at night.

He then struck out on his own at M&S until his mother’s death proved a turning point. He says:

“Shortly before she died, Mum asked if I would look after Dad and the business and my two sisters. I’ve tried to do that ever since.”

Care homes are light years away from what they were when Mr Lee was young. He says:

“Care homes in the 1970s had bad reputations. Your grandma would say ‘don’t ever put me into a care home’. That’s driven me over the years. I want to change how older people perceive care homes.”

Harcourt Gardens in Harrogate

Today Springfield Healthcare, which has six homes providing 500 beds, is at the forefront of luxury care. Think cinema days, rooftop terraces and gin bars.

Harcourt Gardens, which opened close to Harrogate town centre in December, is registered for 115 residents. Its facilities include a cinema room, gym, hairdressing salon and spa, and landscaped gardens. He adds:

“The most important thing for me is that it’s in the heart of the community. Older people want to live in their community.”

Naturally it isn’t cheap — prices in Harrogate start at £1,250 a week. Mr Lee says his company creates an option for people able to afford the choice and provides value for money.

Harcourt Gardens, which employs 50 staff, took more than seven years to go from vision to completion. Covid and a flooded basement added to the delays.

How does he top that? Another site in Harrogate could raise the bar even higher.

‘Holy grail of care’

Outside Grove House

Three years ago, Mr Lee bought Grove House, a grade two listed building off Skipton Road that was once the home of Victorian inventor, philanthropist and mayor Samson Fox.

Grove House belonged at the time to the Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes, a fraternal movement. A flag showing the initials GLE hung outside, indicating it was the organisation’s grand lodge of England.

So when Mr Lee, whose car number plate bears the initials GLE after his name, turned up to check out the site, there was a sense of fate. That there is a plaque about Samson Fox near his Harrogate home added to this.

He bought the site for £3 million and now plans to transform it into “the holy grail of care”.

He wants to convert Grove House to accommodate 23 independent living apartments and build a 70-bed care home and eight houses providing supported living for over-65s on land alongside it.

Schoolchildren from nearby Grove Road Community Primary School will be invited to participate in activities alongside residents and use the gardens for study and play. The site will also host an annual garden party for the community.

The vision for Grove House.

He says:

“I want to bring Grove House back to life and make it part of the community.

“All of my 28 years in care have led me to this. We are giving back to the community and school. It’s not just about making money; it’s about doing the right things.”

‘Strong regional provider’

Mr Lee, who will be an energetic 57 next month, is eyeing other projects.

He’s bought the former Summer Cross pub in Otley and hopes to get planning permission to convert it into a care home. He’s also looking at a site in Wetherby. But his empire is unlikely to swell much more.

“I don’t want to be the biggest, I want to be the best. I want to be a good, strong regional provider.”

Times, however, are tough. Brexit, he says, has “not had a significant impact” besides the fact that he now employs fewer European staff, but he describes the impact of the cost of living crisis and rising energy bills as “massive”.

“I’ve never known it as challenging in my 28 years. We have increased pay rates by 11% for domcare and fuel allowance by 33% and it hasn’t even touched the sides.”

By contrast, he says some local authorities have only increased the rates they pay private providers by 3%, which he describes as “absolutely unacceptable”.

The company is also focusing on staff wellbeing and provides a hardship fund for those in need.

The rise in agency staff is another big change in the care sector, which he attributes largely to evolving work patterns.

“Ten years ago, I didn’t have any agency staff. Now people want to work for four to six weeks and then have a month off.”

Care homes are a major part of the Harrogate district economy but most people, says Mr Lee, make the mistake of not thinking about them until there’s a family crisis. Then they are suddenly forced to make rushed decisions. He says:

“There are so many good care homes on your doorstep here in Harrogate. Go and start looking.”

Mr Lee has two grow-up children from his previous relationship. Son Hugo runs a recruitment company and daughter Rafaela is at university. He now lives with partner Heidi and her three boys.

Away from work, he “plays golf, badly” off a 13 handicap, and is a member of Alwoodley golf club in Leeds. He also enjoys mini-breaks.

He’s come a long way but the 1990s are never far from his mind.

He is close friends with the parents of one of the girls who died and he’s still driven by the promise he made to his mum to look after the business and to keep raising the bar on care homes.

“I’m totally committed to providing the holy grail of care. I want it to feel like a hotel when people walk in.”

Harrogate’s Grove House set for £15m transformation into care and community facility

One of Harrogate’s most historic buildings looks set to be brought back to life as a major new care home and community facility.

Grove House, a grade two listed building opposite the fire station on Skipton Road, was the home of Victorian inventor, philanthropist and mayor Samson Fox.

The building was then used as a hospital during the First World War and shortly afterwards was acquired by the Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes.

Grove House

Harrogate’s Graeme Lee, chief executive of Springfield Healthcare, bought the six-acre site from the Buffaloes three years ago for more than £3m.

Mr Lee, whose company owns six care homes, including Harcourt Gardens in Harrogate, now wants to invest £15m to create what he calls “the holy grail of care”, combining high quality facilities for residents with extensive community use.

He told the Stray Ferret he expects to secure planning permission this autumn after lengthy negotiations with Harrogate Borough Council and begin work in spring next year.

Work is expected to last 18 months, meaning the project could be ready by January 2025.

How the 70-bed facility alongside Grove House will look.

Under the plans, Grove House will be converted to accommodate 23 independent living apartments. In addition, a 70-bed care home and eight houses providing supported living for over-65s will be built on land alongside Grove House.

Schoolchildren from nearby Grove Road Community Primary School will be invited to participate regularly in activities alongside residents and use the gardens for study and play.

The school, which doesn’t have any grass play areas for pupils, has already used the site for its summer sports day this year.

Mr Lee also wants to host an annual garden party for the community on the site.

An artist’s impression of how the site will look.

He said the currently disused site would be brought back to life and become “one of the best examples of developing relationships between older people and young people in the UK”.

He added:

“We are in a difficult period. As a business owner in Harrogate I want to do all I can to help the community.

“I’m driven by that and Grove House achieves that by giving back to the community and school.

“My 28 years in care has led me to this.”