THE site of a former Victorian orphanage will be developed for “executive” housing if new plans are approved.

Joseph Nutter House, near Horton Park, was demolished last year despite an outcry from the public and heritage groups calling for the building to be saved.

The orphanage was opened in the 1880s, and was built thanks to a donation by local philanthropist Joseph Nutter. It was more recently used as a College building, but has been empty since 2016.

But the site was recently sold, and last year Mohammed Farid submitted an application to demolish the large building, saying it was a health and safety hazard and that a new employment development would be built on the site.

Despite objections coming from as far as Boston, Massachusetts, London and Edinburgh, Bradford Council approved the demolition last Summer.

"Sad day for Bradford heritage" as orphanage demolition approved

Despite the building’s grand appearance the former orphanage was not listed or in a conservation area, and the Council said this limited its options when it came to halting the demolition.

Historic England had been asked to list the building, but that plea was rejected, A report by the historic body said: “This private orphanage building in Bradford represents an old fashioned approach for its date to the accommodation of orphans, at a time when attitudes to the welfare of destitute children were changing.

“It employs a standard domestic design and composition for its late date, and the detail is unexceptional.”

Bradford based Opulant Land Developments has this month submitted a planning application to build 11 “executive type” houses on the site.

The site, off Cousen Road, would be made up of seven detached and four semi-detached properties with five and four bedrooms respectively. There would be 28 on-site parking spaces.

The application refers to the controversy over the building’s demolition, and Historic England’s refusal to list the building. It says: “Although some may consider the loss of Joseph Nutter House to be regrettable the applicant has acted lawfully, and comfort can be taken from the fact that it was rightly considered for listing.

“The planning history of the site, which relates mainly to minor works, is of no relevance and the basis from which this application must be considered is a vacant previously developed site.

“The overarching design aim is to deliver a high quality visually attractive and functional residential development, aimed at satisfying unmet need for four and five bed family-sized homes.

“It is clearly desirable that the site is brought back into active and beneficial use to avoid it becoming untidy and uncared for, which could be detrimental to the setting of the park and, to a lesser extent, the conservation area.”

It says the planned houses have been “purposefully designed and sized not only to provide visual presence (like the demolished Joseph Nutter House) but to meet the housing needs of large, likely multigenerational families.”

A decision on the application is expected in June.