Listed city centre building could be demolished to make way for flats

The proposals would see the demolition of Fountain Hall, on Fountain Street next to Hamm Strasse, as well as a neighbouring shop unit - a mini supermarket that fronts onto North Parade.

If the plans are approved a six storey building made up of 57 apartments and a 415 square metre ground floor shop would replace the buildings. It would also be called Fountain Hall.

Submitted by Ajit Singh, the application says the development would act as a “catalyst for future regeneration.”

The flats would be a mix of 22 one-bed apartments, 31 two-bed apartments and four three-bed apartments. There would be communal and private gardens in a courtyard area and storage for 90 bicycles.

There would be no car parking included in the plans - the application lists available parking near the site.

Grade II listed Fountain Hall was built in 1878 as a Friends’ Meeting House, and later became a night club.

Much of the building, which is in the City Centre Conservation Area, was destroyed in a fire around 25 years ago. Today it is little more than a shell.

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Last year the building was included in a list by Bradford Civic Society of 10 buildings that could act as a catalyst for regeneration.

The planning application, which was submitted to Bradford Council shortly before Christmas, says: “The proposed building form must respond to the urban opportunity of enhancing this ‘gateway’ site.

“To ensure the proposed development makes a positive contribution to the conservation area, the proposals must establish an appropriate architectural character and scale, and one that is aligned with the city’s vision for the creation of a vibrant new sense of place and urban identity within the local area, and thereby act as a catalyst for future regeneration.

“This site demands a new high-quality residential-led development. The delivery of a high-quality development at this vacant site would help to reinvigorate a real sense of place within the local area.”

Having a listed status would normally prevent a building from being demolished, but the application claims that any significance the building had has been lost through decades of dereliction.

A heritage statement included in the application says: “This dereliction has now advanced to the stage that the building is a ruined, roofless shell.

“The special interest which warranted the building’s designation, and ostensibly is the basis of the heritage significance, has therefore been substantially eroded to the extent that the building is no longer considered to be of sufficient merit to warrant designation and that its significance now resides in the historical sense rather than the value of its fabric.

“The proposal will result in total loss of the listed building. However owing to its ruined state and erosion of special interest its demolition cannot be classed as substantial harm. As the adjoining commercial buildings are deemed to be negative, their demolition cannot be considered adverse.”

The area around the Oastler Centre is due to become a new “city village” under plans by Bradford Council. The market is due to be demolished once a new market on Darley Street opens in 2022.

Si Cunningham, Chair of Bradford Civic Society, said: “Generally speaking, this development could make quite a positive contribution to the city centre if executed properly, and it looks to create a bit of interesting architecture at an otherwise unremarkable site.

“With regard to the proposed demolition of Fountain Hall, we are consulting with our colleagues at The Victorian Society, who have a more formal role when it comes to applications of this nature. The potential loss of a listed building does cause some alarm, but we do have to accept that sometimes derelict sites can cause more of a hindrance in the long term.

“The Civic Society’s Place Panel has expressed some initial concerns about a few finer details of the new design, which we hope the developer might clarify for us.

“We also hope that the development is delivered in a way which supports the council’s wider ambition to create a new ‘city village’ community around the top of town area.”

A decision on the application is expected in March.

An earlier version of this story included an image of an early design for the scheme. The story has been amended to include the most up to date design.