AN historic Huddersfield house is to be demolished - even though councillors rejected plans to build flats on its site.
Bankfield House, on Holmecliffe Avenue at Taylor Hill, is to be knocked down by Edgerton developers S & A G Young.
Members of Kirklees Council's Huddersfield area planning sub-committee refused S & A G Young's application to build 16 apartments in two blocks on the historic site.
But they were powerless to stop the developer's plans for demolishing the house itself.
In February, Kirklees Council received a demolition notification from S & A G Young for Bankfield House.
It was submitted because a previous demolition notification for the building had expired.
The notification could only be refused if the building is worthy of listed status - and Bankfield House, a mansion built in 1864 by well known architect William Henry Crosland, was not listed.
Groups including English Heritage said the building was not significant enough in architectural terms to be listed.
Independent Holme Valley North Clr Terry Lyons sits on the planning committee.
He said: "It is very controversial. The residents are terribly upset."
Residents had objected strongly to both the demolition and the planning applications.
They were worried that building the flats would result in increased traffic which could be a danger to children walking to nearby schools.
They were also concerned about lack of parking space and the loss of the building itself.
Clr Lyons said: "We are restricted as to our powers so we tried to get the best deal possible for the residents. It was damage limitation really.
"The developers will no doubt amend the application. We will try to ensure it is sympathetic towards people's concerns."
He said S & A G Young are expected to liaise with council planning officers about amending their plans for the site.
