Ducale lines up boutique resi at Woodlands Lodge

A property company co-founded by a former senior PwC partner has bought the grade two-listed North Leeds building and surrounding land, part of the Scarcroft Lodge estate.

Ducale Developments was established by ex-PwC man Ian Plunkett, who headed private business in Yorkshire for the Big Four firm, joining with David Flannery, head of construction components manufacturer ACS Stainless.

The firm has now acquired the derelict Woodlands Lodge for an undisclosed sum. The building was completed in 1830 for Quaker wool merchant Newman Cash.

Former owners include the Earl of Mexborough and Albert Braithwaite, a former Lord Mayor of Leeds. The 16-acre estate left private hands in 1945 when it was acquired by the Yorkshire Electricity Company and was an office for nPower until being sold for development.

Ducale Developments bought the Woodlands site from senior living specialist Audley Group, which recently completed work on Audley Scarcroft Park, a retirement village centred around the restored grade two-listed Scarcroft Lodge, with 172 properties, a restaurant, health spa, gym and wellness studio.

Woodlands Lodge is located at the entrance to Audley Scarcroft Park and will be converted into four large apartments, with two detached executive homes added in a project inked in for completion in early 2026.

Plunkett said: “We are excited to get started on creating something special in this unique space in a highly desirable part of north Leeds. We’ve enjoyed working with John and his team at Audley on this deal.”

John Nettleton, group land director at Audley Group, said: “This was a complex deal given the site’s proximity to Audley Scarcroft Park. Ducale’s approach aligns well with Audley and we are confident the team will create a scheme of the highest quality which complements the village.”

Ducale Developments was advised by Shoosmiths in Leeds, with Audley represented by Steptoe LLP.