Derelict and disused historic buildings in Bradford could be regenerated by developers following a major review of listed buildings, a senior conservation officer told business leaders yesterday.

Bradford Council is set to visit about 5,800 of the district’s grade I, II and III-listed buildings over the next year in a bid to protect those “at risk” in the first study of its kind for five years.

Previously, developers have criticised the high number of buildings where listed status prohibits or restricts them from being renovated.

However, John Ackroyd, a senior design and conservation officer for Bradford Council, told a meeting of Bradford Property Forum (BPF): “The results of this survey are vital for our works and they will give us an idea of how many listed buildings we have and how many are in disrepair or are vacant.”

He said there was the possibility of some buildings being de-listed so that they could be re-developed and that the Council would work with developers to discuss “appropriate” ways of altering buildings which remained listed. “We are supportive of complimentary new design in the historic built environment.”

The Council also has the power to intervene to save privately-owned properties, he said. One example is the 17th century grade II-listed Manningham Manor House in Rosebery Road, the district’s oldest building.

The Council is looking to serve its owner with a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) so that it could employ builders to sympathetically restore the former farmhouse.

Developer Andrew Mason, managing director of Newmason Properties and chairman of the BPF, welcomed the review of listed buildings.

He said: “In the past we have thought that the complicated nature of dealing with listed buildings was getting in the way of some schemes.

“It is great to see them doing something tremendously proactive to save buildings for generations to come.”