A building designed to house trams might seem an unlikely place to look for your next home. Yet on Otley Road in Guiseley, a former transport depot has found a new purpose, bringing apartments and a health club into a building whose original character remains part of the local streetscape.
For anyone exploring property in Guiseley, it is a reminder that the town’s housing story extends beyond traditional terraces and modern estates. Some of its most distinctive addresses grew out of buildings created for an entirely different way of life.
The former tram shed at White Cross is one such example. Its conversion offers an interesting starting point for understanding how Guiseley has adapted over time, while giving buyers and investors plenty to consider about character properties, location and everyday practicality.
At Belvoir Guiseley, we believe understanding the place around a property can help you make a more informed decision. Here, we explore the story behind the tram shed and what to look for when considering a home in this part of LS20.
The building that served Guiseley’s tram network
The former tram shed stands at 135 and 135a Otley Road, Guiseley, LS20 8LY. Historic England identifies it as a building probably dating from around 1909, originally constructed for Leeds City Tramways. It received Grade II listed status in April 1988.
Its appearance reflects the practical demands of its original use. Historic England records a long sandstone building with large vehicle entrances and raised lettering identifying Leeds City Tramways. These details help explain its scale and the proportions that distinguish it from neighbouring domestic buildings.
For today’s passer-by, that history adds another layer to a familiar road. A building associated with exercise and residential life once served the vehicles that helped people move around the area.
Local photographs held by Aireborough Historical Society document the building’s changing role. Its archive also highlights how a former tram entrance became part of the converted building, providing a visible connection between its earlier purpose and its later use.
How the tram shed became apartments and a health club
The building’s journey involved further changes before its residential conversion. Developer Laver Regen records that the former tram shed had been used as a DIY store before plans were brought forward for a mixed-use redevelopment.
The scheme incorporated 19 apartments and approximately 27,000 square feet of health and fitness accommodation. Laver Regen also reports that the project received an award from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.
This gives the tram shed a different story from a site cleared entirely for new housing. Here, an existing building was adapted, allowing its historic identity to remain part of its next chapter.
Today, Nuffield Health operates its Guiseley Fitness & Wellbeing Gym at Otley Road, White Cross. Its advertised facilities include a gym, swimming pool, sauna, steam room and fitness classes.
For people considering the surrounding area, this is a tangible example of how an older building can continue to contribute to everyday local life. It is somewhere people visit, use and recognise, as well as somewhere people live.
What makes a conversion apartment different?
A converted building can offer a different experience from a purpose-built apartment block. Its layout begins with an existing structure, which can influence room proportions, window positions and the relationship between living spaces.
That creates opportunities for individuality, although every apartment needs to be considered on its own merits. Buyers should check which original features are actually present rather than assuming that all homes within a historic development share the same character.
A generous ceiling height might create a striking living room, for example, but the practical questions remain familiar. Where will the dining table go? Is there useful storage? Can a bedroom accommodate both a double bed and a wardrobe? Is there a comfortable place to work from home?
Daylight deserves particular attention. Window size, orientation and the depth of a room can all affect how it feels throughout the day. Viewing at a time when you would normally be at home can help you judge whether the space suits your routine.
The most successful purchase is one where the building’s character and the apartment’s usability work together.
Living around Otley Road and White Cross
When looking at property around the former tram shed, consider the wider location alongside the building itself.
For some buyers, having a health club nearby could fit neatly into an established routine. For others, the deciding factors will be the route to the station, access to everyday shopping or the practicality of travelling to work.
Guiseley station is served by Northern, whose published Wharfedale Line timetable covers services between Ilkley, Leeds and Bradford Forster Square. Buyers planning a rail commute should check the current timetable against their working hours and test the complete journey from the property.
It is also useful to walk the surrounding streets before or after a viewing. A map gives you distances; a visit helps you understand crossings, gradients, traffic and how comfortable the route feels.
Because Otley Road is a through route, the position of an individual apartment matters. Notice which direction the main rooms face, how the windows perform and whether traffic is audible with them open or closed. A second visit at a different time can give you a fuller picture.
These observations help turn an attractive listing into a realistic understanding of daily life.
Could this type of home suit a first-time buyer?
For a first-time buyer drawn to Guiseley, an apartment conversion may offer an opportunity to own a home with a distinctive setting. Whether it is the right option depends on the particular property, the purchase budget and the ongoing costs.
Start with how you intend to use the home over the next few years. A second bedroom might need to serve as an office initially and a guest room later. Storage for bicycles, seasonal belongings or work equipment may matter as much as the size of the living area.
Parking arrangements should also be clear. Ask whether a space is allocated, what rights come with it and how visitor parking works. If you expect to rely mainly on public transport, consider how shopping and evening journeys would fit around that choice.
For a leasehold purchase, ask your solicitor to explain the remaining lease term, any ground rent provisions, restrictions and responsibilities. GOV.UK confirms that the lease sets out how service charges are organised and what can be charged.
Understanding those details early makes it easier to compare the apartment with other homes within your budget.
What investors should assess before buying
For an investor, the tram shed’s history provides a memorable introduction to a property. The investment decision still needs to rest on evidence about the individual apartment and its likely costs.
Begin with a realistic rental assessment. Relevant comparisons should reflect the number of bedrooms, internal condition, usable floor space, parking and position. A nearby house or a newly built apartment may serve a different tenant audience, even if it shares the same postcode.
Consider who the accommodation would suit. Someone commuting by train may value the route to the station, while a person working partly from home may place greater emphasis on a second room and reliable space for a desk.
An apartment close to fitness facilities may appeal to some applicants, but that should be treated as an additional attraction rather than proof of stronger rental demand.
The running costs need equal attention. Alongside mortgage costs, allow for service charges, maintenance, insurance where applicable, management fees and periods without rental income. Check any lease restrictions on letting before committing to the purchase.
A local rental valuation can help you assess the asking price against a realistic income expectation and the costs of ownership.
Buying within a listed building
The former tram shed’s Grade II listing is part of its identity, and buyers should understand how that relates to the home they are purchasing.
Historic England explains that listed building consent is required for alterations or extensions that affect a listed building’s special architectural or historic character. Buyers considering changes should discuss their plans with their solicitor and the local planning authority before assuming the work can proceed.
This is especially relevant if your interest in an apartment depends on changing its layout, windows or other features.
A surveyor experienced in older buildings can help you understand the property’s condition and identify areas that warrant further investigation. Your solicitor can review the relevant permissions and clarify responsibilities for shared parts of the building.
For leasehold homes, ask about planned major works as well as current charges. GOV.UK advises prospective buyers to establish whether major works are planned because contributions may become payable after purchase.
These enquiries help you plan ownership with a clearer understanding of the building.
How to judge value in a distinctive development
A building with an unusual history can be difficult to assess using a broad postcode average alone.
For a useful comparison, look first at completed sales of similar apartments, ideally within the same development where evidence is available. Then consider how differences in floor area, condition, parking, lease terms and ongoing charges affect the comparison.
Rightmove and Zoopla can help you explore competing listings and property histories. HM Land Registry sold-price records provide evidence of completed transactions, although those sales may reflect negotiations agreed some time earlier.
Keep asking prices and achieved prices separate. An advertised figure shows what a seller hopes to secure; a completed sale records the price ultimately paid.
For sellers, the building’s story can strengthen the way a home is presented. Clear photography, an accurate floor plan and straightforward information about ownership costs help buyers assess that story alongside the practical details.
Exploring Guiseley and nearby Menston
The former tram shed is one part of a wider property search across Guiseley and the surrounding area.
If you are also considering Menston, visit both locations with the same priorities in mind. Compare the types of home available within your budget, your actual journey to work and the surroundings you would use during the week.
A conversion apartment may suit someone who wants a distinctive home without a private garden to maintain. Another buyer may prefer a house with outdoor space or a different relationship to neighbouring properties.
Keeping those priorities clear allows you to explore a wider area without losing sight of what you need from the home itself.
Find your next home with Belvoir Guiseley
Guiseley’s former tram shed shows how a familiar landmark can take on a new role while retaining a connection to the town’s past. For buyers, it opens up an interesting conversation about character, convenience and the practicalities of apartment living.
If you are looking for a home in Guiseley or nearby Menston, speak to Belvoir Guiseley about your priorities and the properties currently available.
Considering an investment? Ask our team for a rental assessment to help you evaluate a potential purchase. If you already own a property locally and are thinking of selling, arrange a free, no-obligation valuation and discuss how to present its individual features to buyers.