BRADFORD'S historic former register office has finally been listed as a community asset, much to the delight of the charity looking to take over the city centre site.

The Grade II-listed building, in Manor Row, had been deemed surplus to requirements and put up for auction by Bradford Council, but its potential sale was halted by councillors.

Disability charity Bradnet now has six-months to co-ordinate a possible bid for the building, understood to be valued in the region of £600,000, which it hopes to use as community hub in partnership with other local organisations.

Asif Hussain, chief executive of Bradnet, said he was "absolutely delighted" by the ruling.

"We're very grateful to the committee members for this opportunity, and hopefully we can deliver success," he said.

"It is still early days, but the serious work starts now we have the official approval.

"This decision gives us a window to put our plans together and get other partners on board."

Bradford West Area Committee had initially deferred the decision on the building becoming a community asset - meaning the Council would have a legal obligation to offer it up for sale to community organisations before putting it on the open market - until June 2015, but were told that under the law, a decision had to be made within eight weeks of the application, which was received on October 24.

In a report to the committee, Council officers recommended the nomination for community asset status be rejected, as it did not fit the relevant criteria of "furthering the social well-being and social interests of the community".

However, members voted against officers' recommendations, instead agreeing the building should be listed.

In its application to take over the building, Bradnet - which supports more than 150 disabled people and their families across the district - said the register office was "greatly cherished" by people.

The charity said it had obtained agreement, in principal, from other community groups to turn the site into a "hub of excellence", providing a "complimentary patchwork of services."

The group now plans to seek Heritage Lottery Funding to "rejuvenate, enhance, and sustain" the building, and has until June 11 next year to formally submit a purchase order.

Commenting on the committee's support for the scheme, Mr Hussain said: "I think they had concerns that too many publicly-owned buildings, rich in heritage, were being lost to the private sector.

"They are championing the spirit of community values in supporting our aims, which we are very grateful for."