THE organisation which was to buy the former Keighley College building in Cavendish Street off Bradford Council has announced it has pulled out of the purchase.

A spokesman for the Utley Centre, which two years ago revealed plans to convert the empty property into a business and enterprise centre, confirmed the news on Tuesday.

Although the sale was first unveiled in October 2014, the process was never completed because a Government department would not authorise the release of the building, which has been empty for six years.

The Utley Centre spokesman said: "After much deliberation we're regretfully pulling out from the purchase of the former college building.

"There are a whole host of reasons, including the amount of time the process has taken, vandalism to the building on an ongoing basis, the projected costs of putting that damage right and surveys which have pointed out that more work is needed to put the building back to its original state.

"There is also the negative publicity this is attracting to an organisation that has always done very good work.

"Another issue for ourselves was that of parking at the site, which we were concerned may have become a problem in future."

He emphasised that the Utley Centre had taken the decision to withdraw entirely independently.

He said that if no one else can be found to spend the same amount of cash on the building that the Utley Centre intended to invest, it should be knocked down to enhance Keighley's appearance.

A report due to be presented yesterday (Nov 30) says Government officials did not sign off on the sale of the building because the Utley Centre had "changed its legal status".

The document, which was to go before a meeting of Bradford Council's Regeneration and Economy Overview and Scrutiny Committee, says the delayed sale of the property was due to a decision by the Government's Home and Communities Agency.

It also says the agency has suggested that Bradford Council "revisit" its disposal of the derelict building.

The report was drawn up by Bradford Council's strategic director of regeneration, before the Utley Centre announced it would no longer be buying the property.

It notes: “The Cavendish Street building was marketed and a buyer found.

“The Government's Homes and Communities Agency decided that they would not release the building for sale as the buyer had changed its legal status during the disposal process.

“Consequently they have suggested the council revisit the disposal process.

“The focus of attention has recently been on the move towards demolition of [the adjacent former Keighley College] North Street [building].

“Permission to demolish has allowed a period of reflection on the future of the Cavendish Street building, allowing the organisation that was originally the preferred buyer an opportunity to address their legal status issues.

“It should be noted that if the building is returned to the market, there will be no assumption that the previous outcome will be repeated.

“The Cavendish Street site will be considered for either further marketing or demolition.”