A BRADFORD arts and community centre is celebrating a major cash injection.

Thornton and Allerton Community Association is to get £159,766 from Arts Council England to ensure the organisation has a permanent home at South Square Centre.

The grant will also be spent on improving the Grade II listed buildings so they are fit for purpose.

And delighted ward councillor Sue Duffy says the money will further drive the centre's 'fast-paced move forward'.

"This is absolutely fantastic news," she said. "The centre is a brilliant community resource which is really moving forward apace."

The Arts Council money is part of a £2m-plus pot which is being shared by nine similar organisations across Yorkshire.

News of the cash is another boost to the association, which in August saw a major refurbishment and remodelling scheme approved.

The plans for the Thornton centre were backed by Bradford Council with officers saying the work would ensure the building was secure for many more years.

And it meant association officials could press on with fundraising to meet the near-£1m cost of the scheme.

The building is made up of a dozen 1820s workers’ cottages surrounding a courtyard, and was saved, re-purposed as a community facility and re-opened in the 1980s.

With the lease being transferred from Bradford Council, it now hosts art exhibitions, concerts, community events and is home to a number of businesses.

Earlier this year, the centre was granted Heritage Lottery funding for a major refurbishment, including replacement of its damaged roof, replacing ancient windows and fixing poor quality guttering. Work would also be done to improve accessibility, including adding wider doors and lifts to upper floors.

South Square spokesman Yvonne Carmichael said: "We are so happy to have secured this funding from Arts Council England as a grassroots arts and community centre in a Grade II listed building in Thornton.

"It will enable us to carry out essential repairs to the building which will be completely. transformational for us. It will make South Square much warmer and water tight. It means that we can take on the 99 year lease of the building from Bradford Council. It also provides us with match funding for a bid to Heritage Lottery Fund for a wider programme of repairs as well as a 3 year heritage activity programme."

Coun Duffy said: "The centre provides such a variety of activities. It is such a wonderful resource.

"News of this grant is especially welcome as we were worried about its future as the building needed such a lot of work."

She praised the leadership of Yvonne Carmichael and the board. "They have all worked so hard to get to this point," she said. "They have had to work through a whole series of issues. Pulling all the strands together has been a big job and it is phenonemal.

"As the work progresses, people will see more and benefits from this centre."

Sarah Maxfield, area director North, Arts Council England said: “Congratulations to the nine organisations in Yorkshire who have successfully secured funding.

"I am delighted we are able to support so many organisations."