A bid to save a grand Huddersfield home has failed.
Huddersfield Civic Society, concerned at plans to flatten Longdenholme, had sought listing status from English Heritage for the Greenhead Road Victorian villa.
But English Heritage has turned down the application, saying its of “modest architectural interest for its relatively late date”.
The body, responsible for providing advice and expertise in archaeology, also said while its connections with Joseph Woodhead are clearly of "local interest” it does not justify statutory listing.
The 19th century coach house and stables was built in 1881-82 and is part of the mansion estate home of Joseph Woodhead, founder of the Huddersfield Examiner.
He became a Liberal politician and non-Conformist and was elected to Huddersfield Town Council and was twice Mayor of Huddersfield before being elected MP for the Spen Valley in 1885.
Awarded the Freedom of Huddersfield, he was said to have turned down a baronetcy as he had no wish to be known as anything other than plain Joe Woodhead.
The Longdenholme estate was created by architect Ben Stocks and builder Abraham Graham, both prominent figures in the town.
English Heritage added: “It should, however, be noted that this assessment is of Longdenholme from a national perspective to determine if it meets the necessarily restrictive criteria for statutory listing.
“It should not be seen to undermine its undoubted local interest, nor its positive contribution to the local Conservation Area and the setting of the Grade II registered Greenhead Park.”
A planning application by Pennine Developments Ltd is yet to be determined by Kirklees Council. The firm wants to demolish the existing house and stable block and build three new houses in its place.
