AN old almshouse building in York city centre has gone on the market for £1.275 million.

The sale of the Dorothy Wilson’s Almshouse building in Walmgate comes after plans to convert the ground floor into a restaurant were twice turned down by planners because of concerns about the impact of proposed external changes at the grade II-listed building, which is situated next to the River Foss.

A spokeswoman for estate agent Ashton, which is managing the sale, said said there was still huge potential for development of the 5,166 sq ft building, which has been converted into eight apartments, for example, through conversion into a boutique hotel.

The building was established by the will of Dorothy Wilson who died in 1719, and was rebuilt in 1812.