Part of Hare & Hounds in Horton Bank Top to be demolished

The Hare and Hounds, at the junction of Great Horton Road and Cooper Lane, dates back to the 18th century and is a Grade II-listed building that has been unoccupied for some time.

The proposal, by MGM Property Holdings Ltd, sought permission to demolish later additions to the building. 

The secured site for the derelict pub (Image: Newsquest)

The application said: "The application proposes to demolish the gable end extension, and the single-storey extension to the rear of the structure, which were both later additions to the heritage asset, and therefore covered by the Grade II listing.

"These additions to the original structure were granted planning approval in 1995, and are assumed to have been constructed shortly afterwards.

"Since the site has been closed for a significant period these additions have fallen into a state of disrepair following a number of incidents, including fire damage, and the removal of these additions will aid in protecting the original heritage asset from any further damage, subject to the structure being suitably secured."

One of the signs at the derelict pub site on Great Horton Road in Bradford (Image: Newsquest)

It added: "The proposed demolition will aid in protecting the heritage asset from further damage and decay in preparation of development plans being submitted at a later date which will aim to bring the building back into use.

"The proposed demolitions are not regarded by ourselves to cause any harm to the heritage asset, but to protect it from further damage, and to assist in reducing immediate threats to the building from potential anti-social behaviour."

Another view of the derelict former pub building (Image: Newsquest)

Sections of roofing have been removed from the building in recent years and the site has fallen victim to several vandalism attacks and fires. 

This included a blaze earlier this month when crews from Bradford and Fairweather Green fire stations were called the old pub. 

The Hare & Hounds pub on Great Horton Road in Bradford (Image: Newsquest)

Simon Hinchcliffe, heritage conservation officer, said the "removal of the later additions, which are in a poor condition due to the site being out of usage for a period and being subject to vandalism and theft, has the potential to enhance the host, restoring it to its original form". 

Granting listed building consent, planning officer Andrew Moxon said: "The proposed alterations to the building are necessary primarily to make it secure and weathertight to prevent any further deterioration.

"This being the case, the removal of the later additions to the building is acceptable as it does not demolish the historic elements of the listed building.

"The extensions to be removed date from the latter part of the 20th century."

A condition of the approval is that a plan showing the details of the blocking up of openings must be submitted for approval. 

"The openings shall first be blocked up using natural stone taken from the demolished elements as far as is practicable or with natural stone sized, coursed and pointed to match the stonework of the existing building," the decision report states."

Councillor Alex Mitchell (Lab, Queensbury), said: "I welcome the protection the heritage team are placing on this building. It is regrettable that the building has been left to fall into its current state where it has become quite the eye sore and a target for vandals and flytipping.

"Hopefully, this is the first step to the building being repurposed and its historic character restored."