The bitter battle over the future of Dalton Grange, which was set to be demolished, has taken a fresh twist.
The handsome Gothic building owned by international chemicals giant Syngenta has now received Grade II-listing following an application made by its tenants, Mike and Kim Dean, who run it as an events venue for the local community.
This protection will make it much harder for Syngenta to proceed with its plans to demolish the building on Bradley Mills Road, Bradley Mills.
The company originally thought the site, post-demolition, would make additional match-day car parking for the John Smith’s Stadium or perhaps allotments.
The listing move was welcomed by the Victorian Society and conservation adviser, James Hughes, said: “This is great news for Dalton Grange and Huddersfield.
“Historic England, who are champions of the country’s heritage, have recognised both the building’s quality and its significant historic interest as both the home of a former Mayor of Huddersfield and as a rare example of a professional social/gentleman’s club.
“Demolition for a car park would be wasteful in the extreme. Syngenta, which made gross profits of $15.134 billion in 2014, but says it can no longer afford to subsidise the building, should now reconsider its widely opposed plans for demolition.”
A Syngenta spokesman said: “Presently, a private hospitality business operates from Dalton Grange but pays no rent, which is known to have a market rental value of at least £20,000 per annum.
“Additionally, Syngenta continues to meet annual costs in excess of £30,000 including heat and water, electricity, council tax, rates and building insurance.
“That amounts to a £200,000 subsidy since the demise of the former Dalton Grange social club in 2011.
“The building does not contribute towards Syngenta’s manufacturing activity and has no foreseeable use to Syngenta.
“This position is unsustainable and therefore an application for demolition was submitted in June 2014.
“We shall now review what implications Grade II listing has for the future of the building.”
Paul Booth, a solicitor acting for the Deans, said: “Michael and Kim are pleased that the value of Dalton Grange as a building of significance for Huddersfield has been recognised.
“They do hope that Syngenta will now see the sense of entering into sensible discussions with them with regard to the future, and so that they can continue to provide the service to the people of the Huddersfield, including employees and former employees of Syngenta, that has been so valued by those using it, and, until the last couple of years, by Syngenta.
“They have been managing the Dalton Grange facility since 2004, and have every intention of continuing to do so. They are more than happy to have sensible discussions with Syngenta, who instead decided to bully them and threaten demolition”.
Historic England’s Grade II-listing for Dalton Grange describes the building as a good example of a mid-Victorian country house in Baronial Gothic style, with an interior which maintains stylistic continuity and retains numerous original features.
Dalton Grange is considered a good example of notable Huddersfield architect John Kirk’s work, who designed a number of other listed buildings.
