PLANS to turn a grand old Grade II-listed library building into "fine dining" restaurant have been withdrawn.

The vision for the derelict Great Horton Library, on Cross Lane, was revealed earlier this year in the hope of safeguarding it for the future.

The application, submitted by a Mr Sofuir, said: “The existing building has been left redundant for many years and is in a poor state of condition with extensive thefts to the roof leaving the building leaking internally.

“This proposal ensures that this existing redundant building which is in bad condition is brought back into use with absolute minimum intervention.

“General repairs shall be undertaken to the building. It is deemed this application is the best way to ensure the long term life of the building.”

It added: “The proposal is to change the use of the building from a library to a fine dining restaurant.The building externally will have minimal intervention with repairs taking place on the roof which is in very bad condition.”

However, in consultation Conservation Officer Jon Ackroyd highlighted the architectural and historic importance of the building, which dates back to 1913, to the city's fabric.

He said: "Whilst a sustaining new use for the building would be welcomed, at present there is insufficient information, especially with regard to the interior, to determine if the use and proposed layout, maintains the significance of the building."

Mr Ackroyd added that the heritage statement provided was "weak" and did not detail the level of survival of the interior, its condition, or how it might be affected by the proposals.

"The proposals for the interior are significantly lacking in detail," he said.

"Given that this forms a substantial part of the significance of the building, the impacts of the principle of the proposed use, and any intended alterations must be fully understood prior to determination."

He recommended an impact assessment for the interior be provided.

Meanwhile, the West Yorkshire Archaeology Advisory Service (WYAAS) has recommended the building is subject to an archaeological and architectural record prior to development taking place.

In looking at the impact of the development, WYAAS said: "Conversion to a restaurant will cause some loss or obscuring of the library’s original fabric and fittings.

"Other features, currently obscured, may be revealed and destroyed during refurbishment works."

Bradford Council's Enforcement and Tree Team were also consulted on the application.

The team said the arboricultural information submitted was "sub par".

"Despite a tree report being submitted, it states virtually nothing specific about the site. There are a number of trees within the site, all of which are protected courtesy of the Conservation Area, yet only one misidentified tree has been included in the report," the team said, adding that "insufficient tree data" had been collected.