Work commences on transforming former Wakefield school into £2.5m new homes development

A property developer is set to transform the site of one of Wakefield’s oldest schools into a boutique £2.5m collection of new homes.

The century-old Walton Junior School closed its gates ten years ago.

After standing idle since then, with pupils transferred to the purpose-built Walton Academy nearby, the derelict site on School Lane was purchased by independent developer Berkeley DeVeer.

The company has now broken the turf on its inaugural project in Wakefield, known as Chatsworth Court, as it is set to deliver eight four-bedroom, three-storey properties each with a raft of eco-friendly features.

Five of the eight new homes have already been reserved off-plan, with three remaining with prices ranging from £310k to £325k. The homes are all eligible for Help to Buy financial support.

Dan Newett, Wetherby-based Berkeley DeVeer managing director, said: “Chatsworth Court is the perfect location for those wanting modern, contemporary living with a slice of traditional village life.

“All of our homes are carefully designed and constructed to ensure they meet the highest efficiency standards. A Berkeley DeVeer home is 65% more energy efficient than a Victorian home of the same style, with airtight doors, insulated roofs and special double-glazing keeping the warmth in and the cold out.

“And it isn’t just the planet you are saving, a BDV home can save up to 57% - or £1,410 per year - in energy spend compared with a similar Victorian property.”

He added: “We may be a new name in Wakefield, but we bring to this sought-after area of Walton a proven track record of more than 25 years’ expertise, during which time we have achieved the milestone of building over 1,000 properties.

“Chatsworth Court’s location makes it an ideal development for both families and commuters, providing countryside living, great local education facilities, enviable transport links, and amenities aplenty with Wakefield city centre within ten minutes’ drive.

“It is the ideal launch pad for creating our next 1,000 homes.”

With all the features supplied by names such as Villeroy & Boch, Magnet, Hansgrohe, Hammonds, Valiant and AEG, each of detached properties also benefits from underfloor heating to the ground floor.

Properties also feature Hive controlled heating, allowing buyers to set the temperature of their property, whether they are home or away.

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