£1.51m sale of historic mansion paves way for hotel, spa and wedding venue

A vacant mansion which was sold by Wakefield Council earlier this year is set set become a hotel, spa and wedding venue, the authority’s deputy leader has said.

The council sold Woolley Hall at auction for just over £1.5m in August as part of efforts to save costs.

The building dates back to 1635 and became council property in 1947 but has been unused for around a decade.

The former Labour administration previously planned to turn it into a wedding venue and spa but then decided to sell it in 2024.

John Thomas, deputy leader and portfolio holder for resources, confirmed the sale in a report to be considered at a full council meeting on Wednesday.

He said: “Decisive action means we’ve already sold two properties that have been a significant drain on council resources for a very long time.

“Security, repairs and maintenance all cost money and impact the council’s budget.

“First up was Woolley Hall. After the previous administration’s failure to sell it, the property was successfully sold at auction for £1.51 million, following a significant amount of interest.

“It is now under the ownership of Bradford-based developers who intend to bring the property back into use as a hotel, spa and wedding venue, whilst respecting Woolley Hall’s important heritage that goes back to 1635.”

Coun Thomas said the other property, the old High Well School in South Hiendley, sold at auction for almost ten times its guide price.

The 12.7-acre site, which sold for £900,000, had been vacant for more than a decade after pupils were relocated to a new educational facility in Pontefract.

Coun Thomas said work was also underway to “rationalise” the council’s office accommodation.

He said: “This is important to ensure we make the best use of our buildings, provide modern, fit for purpose facilities for staff to work in and deliver for our residents.

“Sites include Pontefract Municipal Building, which is no longer suitable as office accommodation in its current state.

“We’re now looking at opportunities and challenges around future use or disposal”

The report said a “new lease of life is on the cards” for the Five Towns Resource Centre in Castleford.

The deputy leader added: “Staff currently occupying this building would move to other sites.

“The exciting proposal for the site’s future is heading to cabinet later this year.”