Decision due on eye catching Wakefield Road restaurant that has been compared to Lego bricks

A DECISION on whether to allow an eye-catching new restaurant to be built on Wakefield Road will be made by Councillors next week.

The Yoh Burger restaurant, on the site of the former Gallopers Pub, would be made up of shipping containers. The design has divided opinion, with some comparing it to Lego bricks.

Plans for a restaurant with a more traditional design have already been approved, but late last year an application to amend this design was submitted to Bradford Council.

Despite claims from many that restaurant would create an “eyesore” in the area, planning officers have recommended the amended plans be approved, and a decision will be made by the Bradford Area Planning Panel on Wednesday.

Although some objectors have said the building would “stick out like a sore thumb” - officers say it is s “high quality design” for a building in an area dominated by “large metal clad industrial sheds.”

An application to build a small retail park made up of four shops and a “landmark” restaurant on the former pub site was approved by Bradford Council last year. The restaurant in that original application had a much more traditional design.

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Months later an application to redesign the approved business was made by the Redbeck Group. They compared the design, incorporating shipping containers, to the Wahaca restaurant building adjacent to the Queen Elizabeth Hall in London which has won several design awards since its construction.

The restaurant will have space for 104 diners.

There has been 27 objections to the change in design.

One objector said: “It has the appearance of something you can make from Lego with the colour and shape and it looks top heavy. It will be a blot on the landscape.”

Another said: “This building is totally hideous and not in keeping with the local area. The former Gallopers pub became an eyesore once it was closed. This building is an eyesore to start with.”

And another objector wrote to the Council to say: “Was there a power cut in the office when this was designed? It looks like the plans were drawn up in the dark! Absolutely atrocious and does nothing at all for the area.”

One objection says: “I don’t mind a restaurant being built on the site but dear God please don’t let them build that monstrosity!”

Another says: “People driving in to Bradford down Wakefield road will surely wonder if they are seeing Legoland.”

A report going before the committee points out that planning policies “encourage developments to take opportunities to create ‘landmark buildings’ and encourage designs to ‘display architectural quality and create original architecture’.”

It adds: “It is acknowledged that views of design are subjective and that the bulk of the representations object primarily to the design of this building.

“There are a mix of industrial, commercial and residential properties along this section of Wakefield Road.

“There are very large metal clad industrial sheds for much of the length of Wakefield Road.

“It is considered that it would be read in the context of existing industrial development on Wakefield Road and so would not appear out context in this streetscene.

“Overall, the building’s design is considered to be of a high quality.”

The planning panel will make a decision on the new design at a meeting in City Hall at 10am on Wednesday.