Police arson probe after fire at Woodend Working Men’s Club

Crews scrambled to the old Woodend Working Men’s Club, on Woodend Crescent, Windhill, at around 9pm on Tuesday night.

Firefighters acted swiftly and reached the derelict building within ten minutes of the first call by a member of the public.

The building is on on Woodend Crescent in Windhill (Image: Newsquest)The blaze was out after 90 minutes when police arrived to secure the location.

Three fire service vehicles were at the scene as well as eight firefighters from Bradford station and the Watch Manager.

When the Telegraph & Argus visited the scene on Wednesday morning, the building remained in a derelict state.

The doors entering the premises seemed damaged (Image: Newsquest)A spokesperson from the West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service said: "Last night, we received several calls from members of the public reporting that the former Woodend Pub – a derelict building in Shipley, was on fire.

"We received the first call at 9.07pm and eight firefighters from Bradford were on the scene in under ten minutes.

"We extinguished the fire and left the site at 10.32pm, following the arrival of the police to secure the location."

A spokesperson from West Yorkshire Police added: "We are investigating an arson at the location.

"Any witnesses are encouraged to ring 101 quoting crime reference 13230509451"

A planning application was submitted in August (Image: Newsquest)Last month, the T&A reported that the club was the subject of a new planning application to convert the vacant building into nine apartments.

The plans, submitted by Michael Raymond Smith, say the site would become “quality but affordable housing” and breathe new life into the large, vacant building.

The application says the work on the building would “lift the appearance of the area". 

If approved, the former pub and cafe would be fully renovated to create a mix of one, two, and three-bed flats.

The planning application said: “The site is currently not in use in a dilapidated state and in need of repair. The external car park and land are empty and not in use.

“The building that currently sits on the site requires considerable renovation and restoration, including new windows/ doors, external remodelling, single-storey roofs lifting and a full interior strip out.

“The current building is understood to be of 70s build and offers little features of architectural merit, therefore a full revamp and modernisation is required to attract potential occupants and address the local authority’s demand for quality but affordable housing."