ILKLEY Civic Society has reiterated its objections to a plan to demolish a former care home and replace it with a new build facility after the developer submitted a revised application.

Barchester Healthcare Ltd first submitted a planning application in June 2021 to demolish the former Hollycroft Care Home at 16 Hebers Ghyll Drive, Ilkley and replace it with a new build 31-bed care home with associated car parking, landscaping and amenity space provision.

Hollycroft Care Home was home to 15 elderly people when it closed in June 2017 and has been vacant ever since.

The building is not listed but it lies within Ilkley’s Conservation Area where it is described as a ‘key unlisted historic building’.

As part of the planning process a number of objections were made which the developer says it has now addressed through amendments to the design and the support of a heritage impact assessment.

Whilst noting the changes made Ilkley Civic Society still maintains its objection to the application on the grounds of heritage, sustainability, architecture and environment.

A spokesperson for the society said: "Whilst a more comprehensive heritage statement has been submitted we contend that the property Hollycroft not only makes a ‘strongly positive contribution’ to the conservation area it is also ‘non designated heritage asset’ the total loss of which would be detrimental to the conservation area and not preserve or enhance the character of the conservation area.

"Demolition of any property without taking into account the embodied energy lost and the need to manufacture/source new materials is clearly totally unsustainable in the 21st century. The Bradford ‘Sustainable design SPD’ policy has still not been consulted and no justification for demolition of the existing house provided. Conservation of the historic original building Hollycroft and its reuse as a single dwelling or apartments appear to us the only sustainable solution have not been considered.

"Despite slight changes to the position of the building on the site and minor dimensional reductions we consider this to be only tweaking of the design. The mass of the building proposed and its architecture (minor improvements) are totally unsuitable squeezed onto this site and would result in a negative effect on the conservation area. The bulk of the building still reduces the potential to achieve any ‘net gain’ in biodiversity and we conclude would risk damaging the tree cover surrounding the plot and limit available amenity space for the residents.

"The developer is suggesting in the revised submission that the demand for care home places should outweigh the loss of a ‘Key Unlisted Building’. We have supported local residents who believe as we do there is a current over supply in Ilkley and new care homes being built in Burley in Wharfedale and Menston will reduce even more the demand in Ilkley

"On the basis of the information provided Ilkley Civic Society have still recommend refusal of this application to the Bradford Council Planning Department."

Ilkley Town Council also object to the development, noting the lengthy time that the property has been held empty by the applicant and stating in their public submission: "that the existing building has been neglected and is concerned that granting permission to demolish would be seen as rewarding the owner for neglect that has been allowed."

Residents say they welcome the continuation of a care home at the site but state that it should be retained at its existing size in terms of physical building footprint and bed count (25). They challenge the assertion that original building should be demolished due to its state, agreeing with the council's written view that it is a case of permitted neglect. They add that in the event that, for whatever reason, the care home industry feels that it cannot make profit from the site using the existing building then the nearby Hebers Grove flat development provides an excellent example of how such a classic house can be made into a range of classic and highly desirable flats - with valley views in the case of this site.

If you would like to have your say - whether for or against the development - visit Bradford Council's planning portal and search for 21/02958/MAF. A decision is not expected until the end of August.