A DERELICT Victorian mansion and former mental hospital is set to be renovated as part of a giant multi-million pound ‘care village’.
Plans for the complex at the former Pool Park Hospital near Ruthin, involve a 38 bedroom nursing home; 32 apartments/dwellings and the refurbishment of existing buildings to provide a further six dwellings.
Pool Park Hall was built by landowner Sir Walter Bagot in 1820 and later owned by the Tate family of Tate and Lyle fame.
In 1937 it opened as a mental hospital to ease the overcrowding at the North Wales Mental Hospital in Denbigh, housing mainly long-stay patients.
It closed in 1988 and the Grade 2* listed building has since deteriorated.
The gardens, including a walled kitchen garden which is also listed in the Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest, have overgrown.
Ruthin property firm Roberts Homes has owned Pool Park Hall since 1990.
The plans include: the redevelopment to provide care village comprising a 38-bedroom nursing home within the main house; the refurbishment of existing buildings to provide six dwellings demolition of former boiler house and chapel; provision of 62 apartments and dwellings within the grounds as enabling development together with provision of new services and facilities and restoration of the grounds.
In drawing up their current proposals the developers said they have worked closely with experts from CADW, and in documents supporting the application they state: “Great care has been taken during the design to understand the character and heritage value of the site and its features and to ensure that the buildings and landscape are respected and conserved.”
The residents will be able to choose the level of care they need, with some of the two-three bedroom houses even having their own gardens.
But County Councillor for Ruthin Bobby Feeley said the plans were ‘ambitious’ and ‘totally unsuitable’ for the site.
“I have been approached by the neighbouring farmer who is very distressed about the prospect of what could go there if planning allowed.
“I used to live very near by when we moved to the area 35 years ago when Pool Park was a residential home for those with mental health difficulties, the grounds were beautiful and the place was well run and homely and was thoroughly integrated with the local community.
“Since its closure, nearly 20 years ago the place has been allowed to deteriorate into a dreadful state.
“I think it should be restored and made use of but the builder seems to have much more extensive, ambitious plans which on the face of it seem totally unsuitable for the site, I will be interested to hear the planning officer's view.”
The owners say that the new buildings in the ground are vital to cover the cost of renovating the hall itself.
“The concept of maintaining a peaceful village community is fundamental to the development,” they state.
About 50 local people attended a meeting last year at which the developers outlined their proposals and though some individual concerns were raised there was general support for the historic hall being brought back into use.