A NEW industrial development on one of Bradford's main roads will spoil views of a listed building, but would bring "public benefits" such as new jobs - planning officers have decided.

In 2018 a planning application to build a large building on a vacant piece of land on Wakefield Road were approved by Bradford Council.

The site is next to St John's Church, a Grade II listed building dating back to 1842.

The original plan was for a large building split into two units.

But last year applicant Tahir Mahmood submitted proposals to alter these plans. A new application said the "business plan of the owner has changed" and instead of being split into two units, the building would be split into six.

The new changes would also mean the industrial building would be built closer to Wakefield Road - and now block views of the listed church when heading towards the city centre.

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A Conservation officer on Bradford Council said this was "regrettable" that a "functional commercial building" would block views of an Early-English Gothic-Revival style church, and its prominent spire.

But the altered plans have been approved by planning officers, who argued that they had to weigh up the impact on a neighbouring listed building with the benefits of creating an employment development on a key road.

Conservation Officer Jon Ackroyd said: "Current views of the Grade II listed church, one of the few buildings of any architectural merit in the locality, would be obstructed when approaching down Wakefield Road.

"This is regrettable and is increased beyond the previous approval with the building now being proposed closer to Wakefield Road.

"This now offers little scope for any softening landscaping between the building and site boundary to soften its impact in proximity to the heritage asset."

He suggested that tree planting cold be used to "reduce the stark and potentially discordant appearance of the proposed building."

Since his comments the applicants have submitted revised plans to better landscape the area around the building.

When approving the changes, planning officers weighed up the concerns that the development would harm the setting of a listed building with the fact it would lead to the regeneration of a prominent site.

They said: "The amendments to the scheme when measured against the public benefits of developing a brownfield site within the urban environment and bringing some employment to the district, is considered to offset the level of harm identified to the designated heritage asset."