One of the town centre’s oldest buildings is set for a change.
University of Huddersfield bosses want to convert the Sir John Ramsden Court building, which overlooks Wakefield Road at Aspley, into offices.
The Grade II* listed building was a former canal warehouse and dates back to 1774. It has been used in recent years as residential flats.
A statement submitted with the planning application says the re-vamp is part of the overall redevelopment of the university’s Queensgate campus, and follows on from the new sports centre and plans for a new-build overlooking the Shorehead roundabout.
The university has spent hundreds of millions of pounds on developing the campus.
The application says: “The accommodation is in a tired condition, requiring maintenance and investment to bring it up to an appropriate standard.
“The use of the building as office accommodation will fulfil a need and meet a shortfall for this type of accommodation in the university.”
The university owned the building but sold it off for residential use in the 1980s. They have since bought it back to include in campus regeneration plans.
It’s thought some of the 80s work will be stripped out, although full restoration has been ruled out.
The building was named after Sir John Ramsden, whose family once owned much of the land around Huddersfield.
It sits just across the road from the end of the Huddersfield Broad Canal which is also known as the Sir John Ramsden Canal.
The application is open to public comments via Kirklees Council until June 29.
