PLANS have been lodged to turn a former library building into apartments.

Hipperholme Library building, which closed in 2020, was listed in an online property auction this summer.

It ended up reaching more than double the £120,000 guide price, eventually selling for £286,000 to an undisclosed buyer.

Now applicant Mr Raynor of Sleaford-based Eco Block Concrete has applied for change of use from library and offices into residential use.

The plans indicate that eight apartments could be created in the multi-storey building, seven of which would be one-bedroom and one would be two-bedroom.

There would also be the addition of dormer windows to the side and rear of the prominent Leeds Road building.

Plans lodged as part of the application show two apartments in the basement, one on the ground floor, a further three on the first floor, and two on the second floor.

The building itself was described at auction as containing many original features including ornate stonework, stained glass windows, tiling and woodwork.

It has two main floors, over the ground and first floor, along with a full-height basement and roof space storage areas.

In the run up to the auction there had been calls for the Council to halt the sale pending a review of the policy by the Secretary of State.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Councillor George Robinson outside Hipperholme Library (image:LDR)Councillor George Robinson outside Hipperholme Library (image:LDR)

Hipperholme Library was one of several libraries to shut under a shake-up of library services in Calderdale.

It was part of the Future Council project - to dispose of parts of Council land and buildings portfolio to both save running costs and increase revenue to offset severe budget pressures.

Calderdale Council had agreed to dispose of the building along with some other library and public buildings following the publication of its Future Council report in autumn 2020.

Prior to this ward councillor George Robinson expressed concern that Hipperholme’s cultural offer was being hit hard.

Hipperholme Library had been well used, he added, saying it was ranked fifth out of Calderdale’s 13 libraries, but despite that it was one of five which faced the axe.

A petition against the closure gathered hundreds of signatures and ward councillors endeavoured to come up with a plan to save it from closure.

However, despite their efforts a decision was still taken to close the village library and it eventually closed its doors in 2020.

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