A YOUTH centre building that has been damaged by vandalism will be flattened and replaced with a new facility “better suited to the needs of the 21st Century.”

Bradford-based One in a Million charity is working with Bradford Council to try and build a new facility to replace the former Canterbury Youth Centre, which is due to be demolished.

The building, also known as the Arc Centre, was closed in early 2020 due to the Covid 19 pandemic.

Since then it has been subject to vandalism and arson.

When the Telegraph & Argus visited the site last December, a rubbish fire was raging at the front of the building.

It was then that the Council first announced plans to flatten the building, which is based off Arum Street, saying it was becoming a magnet for anti-social behaviour.

The Council said independent surveys showed refurbishment costs would be uneconomic.

One In A Million had applied for a community asset transfer to take on the building, but is now working with the Council to apply for a grant to contribute towards building a new youth centre.

The new facility will be a permanent location where the charity could provide a range of activities and sessions for local children and young people.

It is proposed that the surrounding open space and multi-use games area would be retained.

People of all ages from the local community would be also supported and encouraged to make use of the new centre.

Demolition will start in the next few weeks.

Councillor Alex Ross-Shaw, Portfolio Holder for Regeneration, Planning and Transport, said: “Although it’s disappointing that the existing building suffered severe vandalism during Covid, demolishing the building will allow us to support One In A Million’s funding bid to provide a modern facility better suited to youth and community needs in the 21st century.

“The funding bid is significant and if successful will represent an investment of several hundreds of thousands of pounds into the heart of one of our most deprived communities”.

Councillor Taj Salam, ward councillor for Little Horton, said: “It’s a shame the centre needs to be demolished but it needs to happen to stop the anti-social behaviour it’s attracting around the site. I’m fully behind the One in a Million bid to get a new centre on the site and will be doing everything I can to make this happen.”