PLANS to build an industrial building on land next to an landmark Bradford church have been approved.

The site, on Ounsworth Street, just off Wakefield Road and next to St John’s Church, is the former site of a set of public baths, but in recent years has been left overgrown and unused.

Earlier this year Tahir Mahmood submitted a planning application to Bradford Council to build a 970 square foot building on the vacant site, which will include two light industrial units.

Although conservation officers have raised concerns the building would cause harm to the setting of the church, a listed building, planning officers at the Council believe this harm will be outweighed by the creating of new jobs, and the development of a brownfield site on one of the city’s key transport corridors.

The planning application says the development will include a 15 space car park, and landscaping between the building and both Wakefield Road and the church. Natural stone will be used in the building’s construction.

It adds: “The adjacent sites Church building has heritage value and the use of natural stone in our building will acknowledge and support that.

“We feel this scheme will hit all the positive areas required for the development of this site, and introducing a good quality attractive building to a main thoroughfare creating new employment opportunities.”

Conservation officers said the new development would be harmful to the setting of the church, which is a Grade II listed building, but that this harm would be “less than substantial.”

But planning officers pointed out that the large road and other industrial units in the area already detracted from the appearance of the church and its imposing spire.

Approving the application, planning officers said: “ It is considered that to some extent the setting of the listed building has been compromised already by the introduction of the A650. Further compromise to the setting has been made by the surrounding built form which is largely industrial in nature.

“The views of the church would be compromised when travelling towards Bradford and this impact needs to be considered against the public benefits.

“These public benefits include developing a brownfield site within the urban environment and bringing some employment to the district.

“Whilst there are no figures in terms of employment it is likely the light industrial use of this size would a modest number of jobs into the area which is of particular benefit in this area of the district.”