COUNCILLORS have been asked to turn down a charity's plan to create a crash pad for under-privileged young people at a Grade II listed property in Little Germany.

The Cinderella Club, one of Bradford's oldest charities, brought 16 Chapel Street in the early 1960s and let it out to raise money.

In November the organisation submitted plans to fully refurbish the building to create a stopover where children can spend a couple of nights sleeping in proper beds with clean bedding, clean bathroom facilities and one-on-one care in a calm, fun environment.

But planning officers asked for more time to examine the application and it will now be decided by the Area Planning Panel at a meeting on Wednesday.

Officers have recommended that the application be refused because they said a proposed rear dormer window would be "inappropriate and obtrusive".

Planning documents say: "This is considered to result in substantial harm to the character and appearance of the listed building and the conservation area which is not outweighed by any public benefits of the scheme.

"This is a very large and obtrusive structure which covers almost the whole of the rear roof slope of this listed building. This type of structure would not generally be acceptable on a building which was not listed and not in a conservation area, this building is both."

But applicant Terry Pearson, one of the charity’s four trustees, said he objected to the recommendations and he highlighted nearby buildings, such as the Bradford Playhouse, with extensions and dormers.

He said: "Their position is nonsense. Whilst they have a duty to protect the conservation area and I agree with that, we are saying we will do the renovation work in keeping with the street.

"We have made other concessions. Putting in two smaller dormer windows, as the planners suggested, doesn't give us the same internal area.

"We need these dormers. We are maximising the space for the benefit of underprivileged children in Bradford.

"It gives us space to run the charity, space for clothes and toys. We want the space for kids to see that this is how you should live. We are talking about children who don't have bedding, clean clothes and who are not fed properly. We want somewhere for them to go and have a hot meal and a clean bed."

Planning documents say the top floor of the building would be used as accommodation for youth workers whilst they are looking after the children.

A total of 35 letters of support for the scheme were received.