One of Huddersfield University’s oldest buildings could be razed.
The University has applied to Kirklees Council to demolish the Brunswick Building - the former Central Lads Brunswick Club.
If approved, it will be demolished along with its neighbour - the university’s old sports centre overlooking Shorehead roundabout. The land will be earmarked for a new building but its use or design is not known.
The demolition bid has dismayed Chris Marsden of the Huddersfield Civic Society, who said the university have omitted the building’s history from the planning application.
The application says: “The Brunswick Building was constructed between 1907 and 1918. lts history is not well known but the Ordnance Survey edition of 1960-1 indicates it was associated with the Central Lads’ Brunswick Club.”
Chris Marsden, chair of the Civic Society, says the history is significant to Huddersfield: “It is so dismissive of the building, that’s what concerns me. It’s as if its history is being wiped away.”
He said the building’s origins lay with the Church of England Temperance Societies Police Court Mission - a body which supported the rehabilitation of offenders and moved from a cellar in the town hall to the building, designed by architect Willie Cooper. Its inauguration was July 1, 1908.
Mr Marsden said: “The body supported offenders in the community with the teaching of trades work, it was kinder than imprisonment.
“By 1908 they had raised the money to build the hall that is now known as Brunswick Building.
“The First World War put an end to it as the men were enlisted to join the Army, but there had been talk of having a club for the less fortunate lads of the town and after the war that was what it became.”
Thousands of men will have passed through its doors until the 70s when it formed part of the technology college and later the university campus.
Mr Marsden added: “It was humble in its beginning but it’s a splendid building.”
The Civic Society will make a representation about the demolition plan. They believe its prominent location is too significant for an application to demolish an historic building but not indicate future design use.
Mr Marsden added: “We do not mourn the loss of the old sports hall, it rather insulted the Brunswick Building. But it’s sad the university has not made any announcement about this.”
In the application the university concedes the “demolition of this building would cause substantial harm to this moderately significant heritage asset, but National Planning Policy Framework requires that this harm be measured against the potential benefits of the regeneration”.
It adds: “The Brunswick Building site is prominent and offers the university an opportunity to produce a landmark building on this highly visible gateway to the Queensgate campus.”
They described the building as “no longer fit for purpose.”
A University spokesman said no definite plans had yet been drawn up for the site but added; “It is a prominent location on the campus and our intention is to create a striking gateway building”. He said the demolition provided opportunities for campus expansion.
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