A PROPERTY developer has applied for permission to convert a historic former school into a development of flats and houses.

The Grade II listed former Cathedral School on Captain Street, near Bradford Cathedral, has been empty since August, when Forster Community College re-located from the building to Little Germany. The building dates back to 1872 when it was opened as a Cathedral School for the children of Bradford’s city centre workers. Until recently it was owned by the Church of England Diocese of Leeds.

In December the empty school sold for £288,000 at a property auction – its guide price had been between £120,000 and £130,000.

Now a planning application has been submitted by MMR Construction, the Manchester based company behind a number of residential conversions in the city centre, to convert the building into residential use.

The application would see the the main building converted into 16 two-bed flats, three one-bed flats and a three-bed flat. Offices to the side of the building would be converted into two houses. Many of the flats would be two-storey. Other conversions by the company include apartment developments at 15-17 Canal Road and 26 Canal Road.

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The building, a short distance from Napoleon’s Casino and the Corn Dolly pub, is in one of the quieter areas of the city centre. When the building went to auction, Alan Hall, vice-chair of Bradford Civic Society, said the building should be restored, and said ideally it should be converted to “genuinely high quality, spacious housing”.

Last year plans to build a new apartment block on a neighbouring car park were approved by Bradford Council.

The planning application by MMR says: “The proposed use as a residential brings about a vibrant use for this fantastic space. To the immediate surrounding areas to the north and east and further beyond lie both residential buildings, offices, casino and a variety of empty mills that are becoming an eyesore on the streetscape. MMR Construction have now completed many apartment schemes in the heart of Bradford over the last five years, two along Canal Road, two on Grattan Road plus Manor Row, forming a total of 260 new apartments.”

The company says the development would respect the building’s listed status, with only minor alterations, such as new roof lights.

One of the reasons Forster College cited for re-locating from the building was the high cost of maintaining a Grade II listed Victorian building.

A decision on the planning application is expected in July.