Council planners have paved the way for an historic building to be razed.

Kirklees Council has give the University of Huddersfield permission to demolish the Brunswick Building - a former lads club.

It was despite opposition from Huddersfield Civic Society, which had unsuccessfully now sought listed building consent from English Heritage for the building, sited next to the old sports centre overlooking Shorehead roundabout.

Chris Marsden, Civic Society chairman, said: “The council’s Conservation and Design report is as skimpy in detail as the university’s historical assessment of it - they don’t address any of the points we raised about its historical value.

“During the process we applied for listing for the building on the grounds of its architectural and historical value but English Heritage cold not recommend it."

But the Civic Society now hopes a good future can be found for the key site.

And they believe the answer may lie in a pile of stonework currently in a Kirklees Council yard.

Mr Marsden said: “This is such a key site for the town, it has to be handled with a great deal of respect and affinity to the town. What is built there should bring and add value to the town.

“There is a listed building that had consent for demolition in 1980 and that is Moldgreen Methodist Chapel.

“The facade was to be saved and the stone re-used, but a use has never been found for it. It’s all piled up in a courtyard.

“I think it should be considered and the facade could be incorporated into a design.

“We would like the University to hold a design competition too - it’s such a high-profile site that we think it should be open.

The historic Brunswick building in its heyday as an educational establishment. It now faces demolition by the University of Huddersfield
The historic Brunswick building in its heyday as an educational establishment. It now faces demolition by the University of Huddersfield

“I can’t recall the university holding a design competition before, but due to the key nature of the site we think it could be a good idea.”

Kirklees Council validated the University’s application to demolish the Brunswick Building on February 7 and it was granted on March 6.

But the University were criticised for omitting historical detail of the building’s history from its demolition application.

They said the building’s “history is not well known” yet tens of thousands of people will have passed through its doors as it was once a place for the rehabilitation of offenders and later the former Central Lads Brunswick Club.

A spokesman for the University did not want to comment on the Civic Society’s listing bid, but said of the idea of a design competition: “We haven’t decided what we want there yet, we have to think of what. We won’t reject it but the university will identify a need and any building would have to fit its purpose.

“What is most important is that the design is fit for purpose.”

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