A FORMER community centre and church can be demolished to make way for modern employment units, despite planning officers claiming the loss of the building is “regrettable.”

An application to flatten the vacant building on Fred's Place, off Sticker Lane, and replace it a business unit was submitted to Bradford Council over a year ago.

Planners have now approved that development, arguing there was little the Council could do to prevent demolition as the building is not listed or protected in any way.

The stone building, next to the JCT 600 showroom, is the former home of the Church of God of Prophecy and has more recently been used as a community centre that has a capacity for 200 people.

It has been vacant for over a decade.

The planning application by Shah Hussain said the building is deteriorating, and that there has been very little interest in anyone taking on the property.

Initially Highways Officers objected to the plans – saying the single, large unit could cause traffic problems on Sticker Lane.

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Since then, the plans have been re-designed, and the building will now be replaced by four smaller units rather than a single large unit.

There had been five objections to the plans – most of which referred to the loss of the attractive building, with one saying it was part of the “shared heritage” of Bradford.

However, planning officers pointed out that the building had no legal protections. Approving the plans, they said: “The site is currently occupied by an attractive stone-built building originally constructed as a place of worship and prior to its current period of vacancy was used as a community centre.

“The building has, however, been vacant for more than 10 years and it would appear that efforts to find a new use have not been successful.

“In the circumstances, given that the building is not statutorily protected, ie listed, proposals for its demolition and redevelopment are considered to be appropriate provided they are well detailed.

“Concerns have been raised in representations about the loss of the building however given that it is not statutorily protected there is little the Council could do to resist its demolition.

“Whilst the loss of the former Church building is regrettable given its long period of vacancy its redevelopment in the way shown in the proposed drawings is considered to be acceptable and will create employment opportunities in this area.”