Historic England Supports Plan to Transform Listed York Asylum
Historic England has praised plans to transform a former York asylum into a new residential development.
PJ Livesey Group has submitted a proposal to convert Georgian hospital The Retreat into apartments, as well as opening up public access to its grounds. Both the building and the grounds are Grade II*-listed, which puts them amongst the top 10% of England’s most important historic sites.
Built in the late 18th century, The Retreat played a pivotal role in the development of the treatment of mental illness. In contrast to the traditional use of fear and restraint to ‘cure’ patients, the hospital focused on a gentle and positive approach derived from the founders’ Quaker beliefs.
The hospital grounds were purposely designed as a therapeutic landscape with walks and a sports ground laid out to encourage fresh air and exercise.
While The Retreat has remained a hospital for more than two centuries, the complex is no longer suited to this purpose and it has been necessary to find a new use to secure its future.
The Retreat is a hugely important historic site; its pioneering approach to mental illness and the indoor and outdoor facilities that were constructed to deliver it, were hugely influential both in Britain and abroad. PJ Livesey Group’s plans for The Retreat present a positive vision for the future of the site, which is sympathetic to the historic significance of the hospital and also offers public benefits by making its beautiful grounds accessible to local people and visitors.
As the Government's expert advisor on England’s heritage, part of Historic England’s role is to advise on development proposals affecting the historic environment. Historic England was involved in detailed discussions with PJ Livesey Group during the development of the plans alongside York City Council.
