THE Victorian Society is up in arms at a Bradford Council decision to demolish a school once attended by world-famous artist David Hockney.

A Council committee made the ruling earlier this week, despite a dogged campaign by many people, including Mr Hockney's brother John, to save the distinctive Hutton Middle School building in Eccleshill.

Gregory Property Group now has permission to flatten the building and build 29 houses on the site in Cavendish Road.

But Richard Tinker, of the Victorian Society, said: "It seems to us that it has been seen through the process without consideration of alternatives or proper evaluation of historical or architectural value.

"It deserves a better fate than to be pulled down.

"From our point of view we are sorry that such a fine and sound building in strong condition should have such a sad fate."

Mr Tinker continued: "Our concern is that although it is an unlisted building and not in a conservation area, it is a building of considerable quality, stature and presence in the village.

"We felt it should be converted. The site is big enough, with plenty of room for new houses but also for careful conservation of the old school building.

"We have seen other examples around the country of buildings like this that lend themselves to conservation.

"We felt it would be wrong to agree to a scheme that just swiped it all away because it had no formal or statutory protection."

On the well-supported campaign to save the building, which included more than 60 objections on the Council's website, Mr Tinker said: "It does not appear to have had any effect. There did not appear to have been any alternatives considered to straightforward demolition.

"The application was not referred to the Victorian Society at all for comment at the time it was first validated by the Council."

Mr Tinker and colleagues in London also considered the building to be "as good as many listed buildings".

He added: "I went to have a look at the building. It is in good condition and it stands well next to the road."

Mr Tinker continued: "David Hockney attended the school. In all normal circumstances that would be the additional factor of historical interest that would have surely been a factor that should have been taken into account."

Mr Tinker said he was meeting a colleague on Monday to discuss the Society's next step.

Eccleshill resident Andy Chilton has been leading a campaign to save the building from demolition.

He spoke at the meeting earlier this week and later slammed councillors and the decision process, stating: "What I saw was criminal. It was diabolical.

"There was five minutes to save 140 years of history. There is something wrong if Bradford is not looking after its heritage properly."

A Council spokesman said campaigners could apply to take the matter to a judicial review as a next step.