RADICAL plans to transform a Grade II listed building – once a private school that folded under mounting debts – have been revealed during a special meeting in the grand hall.

Seddon Homes, new owners of Malsis Hall in Glusburn, want to build up to 100 houses in the grounds, including converting the lodge house, and turn the 150-year-old main building into a specialist care and rehabilitation centre.

The public were invited to see the proposed plans in detail last Wednesday, between 3.30pm and 7.30pm, and learn how the grounds will also be configured with housing and special sports facilities, especially a number of football pitches.

Plans are to renovate the hall into a specialist care and rehabilitation facility for people suffering psychological trauma, featuring 40 beds for fee-paying patients and employing about 100 staff.

The hall will also have space made available for use by the local community and some of the grounds converted into garden space, including an enclosed private garden.

About 50 people visited the exhibition within an hour of it opening, and feelings were mixed among those who turned out.

Retired Craven College lecturer, Stewart Anthony, of Glusburn, said:" It is difficult to know what is best for the site.

"What is a fact is that this building should be preserved.

"In the absence of a hotel, this project sounds as good as we can get, but at the same time I have concerns about how the whole development, including the houses, will impact on the the traffic situation, which is already dreadful in Cross Hills and on local schools."

The congested traffic problems in South Craven were also highlighted by Nigel Singleton, of Sutton, who pointed out it had taken 15 minutes to drive the short distance from Kildwick roundabout along Station Road in Cross Hills en route to the exhibition.

But he is in favour of some action to preserve the hall, which he claims is quickly falling into "wrack and ruin".

Seddon Developments managing director, Jamie Seddon, said the scheme was inspired by his late father, Christopher, who had set up a similar facility for people suffering psychological trauma at Manor Hall in Doune, Scotland, which opened last July.

He added: "The centre will provide care for people who have suffered psychological trauma.

"It will have 45 beds and about 100 staff and provide a tranquil setting for patients."

Plans will be submitted to Craven District Council shortly, and it is hoped to start the project in early spring 2017.