A HISTORICAL Bingley building will be demolished over safety fears.

Plans were lodged by Intu Developments Limited to raze the Priestthorpe Annexe, part of the former Bingley Science Art and Technical School, on Mornington Road, towards the end of last year.Once used as a training college, the 19th Century building has been largely empty since 2002, suffering from neglect to the point where the building was judged to have “nil” value by a property consultant.

For years, Bingley residents and local politicians have called for something to be done about the crumbling building.

Last June, Bradford Council agreed to sell the building, which is in the Leeds-Liverpool Canal Conservation Area.

Intu’s application revealed plans for a new residential development and described the building as been in a “very poor and dangerous” condition.

It outlined “serious concerns” of further collapse or falling debris, while acknowledging that demolition would result in the total loss of a “key unlisted” building.

Conservation Officer Jon Ackroyd said of the application: “As the proposals do not present any replacement development proposals, beyond the outline suggestion of residential use, the merits of these cannot be taken as public benefit and used in consideration of the duty to maintain or enhance the significance of the area.

“The demolition of the building would be a significant loss to the townscape of the locality despite the condition of the building, and the only benefit discernible is the consideration of public safety.”

However, Bradford Council’s building control team said that any delay in the demolition of the building could put the public at risk.

In his report, planning officer Paul Verity said: “Whilst the loss of this key unlisted building in the Leeds-Liverpool Canal Conservation Area is regrettable, the condition is such that it has been accepted that the demolition is justified on public safety grounds and that it is unviable that the existing structure could be secured or repaired.”

Hes said: “The safety of the building has been in question for a long period of time, however the recent partial collapse of the roof has given significant cause for concern, as has the parlous state of much of its timbers and floors.”

Mr Verity’s report said this is likely to be further affected by deteriorating weather.

“Whilst temporary safety measures are in place, they do not provide sufficient guarantees to safeguard the public in the event of a further partial collapse,” he said.

He also highlighted the building’s “significant scale” and the fact it is near a school.

“The building is not safe to enter and even demolition will be difficult due to the lack of safe access internally,” said the report.

“The repair or reinstatement of this building would therefore be impractical due to health and safety issues so any suggestion that it could be done and produce an economic return is not realistic. In 2014 the Council were advised by their own independent Chartered Surveyor that the building was beyond economic repair and that the site would need to be cleared and redeveloped. This advice was accepted by Officers and the Regulatory and Appeals Committee, who resolved to dispose of the property and reinvest the capital receipt for the educational benefit of Bingley, in the knowledge that planning applications would follow for demolition and redevelopment.”