PLANS to demolish a former youth centre to make way for a block of 24 flats have been approved.

Calderdale Council is behind the outline plans for the Brighouse Youth and Community Centre site on Aire Street.

The authority is now expected to sell the site, with the benefit of planning permission in place.

The centre closed its doors last year after an asset review by the Council, where the building was earmarked for closure and subsequent sale.

The team said it had looked at number of options for the vacant building, which dates back to the 1890s and and used to be a school.

But it emerged that difficulties around remodelling the building could see it costing £2 million to refurbish, while fitting just 12 flats in.

It was deemed that there were “too many obstacles” and that it could not realistically be converted.

As the building is a “non-designated heritage asset” full justification needed to be provided in order to demolish it.

A report into the scheme by Council planners indicates that a floorplan shows it would be made up of ten one-bedroom flats, ten two-bed flats and four three-bed flats. Although as the plans are at outline stage, layout, appearance, access and landscaping are reserved for a later application.

Five letters of objection were received by the Council, with concerns raised including objecting to a ‘classic’ building’ being demolished, that revamping the youth centre would be a better use of money and resources, and that it will cause traffic and parking issues in the area.

The report by planners adds that the site in in a designated Primary Housing Area, although it is not allocated for housing itself. However the Council cannot demonstrate a five year supply of deliverable land for housing.

“It is considered that the development, which is for new housing on previously developed land, would not create any unacceptable environmental, amenity, traffic or other problems, ... and the quality of the housing area would not be harmed.”

It continues: “The layout reflects that of the existing building; it is a linear structure that runs parallel with the boundary walls. A smaller structure is proposed on the north aspect which would provide a stairwell to access the upper floors.

“The proposed building height is 10.5m to the eaves on Aire Street with shallow mono pitch roofs to keep the scale down. Overall, it would be no higher than the wall gables of the existing building.”

It is considered that the scale and layout would be in keeping with the character and appearance of the area, it adds.

“The indicative design is a modern structure and though the area is predominantly traditional stone buildings it is considered that a modern design would not necessarily cause harm. Appearance is a reserved matter and therefore the final design is for consideration at that stage.”

There are plans for a car park on the ground floor and the existing access to the site is considered acceptable, although as there would be more vehicles coming and going under its new use, the wall would need to be lowered.

A quarter of the flats will be given over to affordable housing.