Brighouse youth centre demolition plans given the go-ahead to make new homes

The proposals have been submitted for Brighouse Youth and Community cenrtre on Aire Street and Healey Wood Road.

Outline planning permission has been given for the demolition of the existing building and the construction of a new building to accommodate up to 24 dwellings.

This includes ten one-bedroom flats, ten two-beds and four three-beds.

A car park is indicated on the ground floor with access proposed from Aire Street

The building was originally built and opened as a school in 1891

It was closed as a youth centre in April 2019.

The Victorian building was shut after an asset review by the Council, where the building was earmarked for closure and subsequent sale.

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.

However, in the application by Calderdale Council they said “too many obstacles” and that it could not realistically be converted and remodelling the building could see it costing £2 million to refurbish, while only creating 12 flats .

In the feasability study its said the the adaptability of existing building is severely limited by existing structural ceiling heights that are not suitable to introduce mezzanine floors that would increase effective floor area and development potential.

This creates a very restrictive overall internal area that would not be attractive to potential contractor/developer the study suggested

Calderdale Council's Assistant Director – Education and Inclusion did highlight that there is a shortage of places in secondary school.

In order to mitigate the impact a contribution towards school places will be sought by developers and subject to this it is considered that the development would not have a detrimental impact on the ability of schools to accommodate additional pupils.

In the planning officers decision they said: "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."

"The application is a high density scheme promoting efficient use of brownfield land.

"In this case, the high density of the development is not considered to create a significant issue in terms of the character of the area, or on the demand on services and is acceptable in the context of the site and its surroundings.

"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."