AN HISTORIC building which has long been considered at risk by heritage bosses could be saved as new plans to repair and convert it have been submitted.

The 16th century Kirklees Priory gatehouse is part of the private Kirklees Estate at Clifton near Brighouse, and is one of a handful of buildings on the wider site that have been on the Historic England ‘at risk’ register since it was first drawn up more than 15 years ago.

It is grade II* listed and was part of the former Kirklees Priory, but has been left empty for a number of years and has gradually fallen into disrepair.

The ancient building is also said to have links to Robin Hood, with legend telling how he died in the gatehouse itself and was buried nearby.

A plan to save the gatehouse from further deterioration and turn it into a home has been submitted to Calderdale Council by estate owner Louis Pickersgill.

Historic England’s Giles Proctor told the Telegraph & Argus that the organisation, which is responsible for looking after the historic environment, had provided a grant towards the project development.

He added that discussions were ongoing over a further grant for repairs, subject to planning permission and listed building consent being forthcoming.

Mr Proctor said: “We are hoping that the building is going to be repaired and turned into a two bedroom house, which the owner intends to use as a holiday let.

“The owner would need to make quite a significant investment, but we don’t foresee any significant problems with the reuse proposals as they have been done sensitively. The building is surrounded by park land and has real potential.”

He added that the building had been repaired in the early 1900s and had been used as a dairy and museum in the past, but had fallen into disuse around the second world war.

The gatehouse, along with other key buildings on the estate, have been on the ‘at risk’ register since it began in 1999.

A heritage statement by agents Wiles and Maguire submitted as part of the planning application states that looking at ways of removing such buildings from the ‘at risk’ register is a priority for Historic England and funding has been granted to develop a conservation strategy for the building.

It states: “A central part of the conservation strategy is to find a new sustainable use for the building. After some discussions internally they felt that the conversion of the building to a single dwelling would offer the best solution. They have offered a grant to the building owner to undertake repairs with this in mind.

“There are already a number of residences within Home Farm created by conversion of the post medieval agricultural buildings. The conversion of the gatehouse into another residence would not be without precedent or out of character.”