A DEVELOPER'S appeal against Bradford Council's decision to refuse the demolition of Hollycroft Care Home has been dismissed.

Barchester Healthcare Ltd acquired the care home at 16 Hebers Ghyll Drive, Ilkley in 2021 and submitted a planning application to demolish it and construct a new build care home together with car parking, landscaping and amenity space provision.

Hollycroft was home to 15 elderly people when it closed in June 2017 and has been vacant ever since.

The building is not listed but it lies within Ilkley’s Conservation Area (CA) where it is described as a ‘key unlisted historic building’ and is a Non-Designated Heritage Asset (NDHA).

The planning application had attracted widespread objection and was refused by Bradford Council in August last year.

Barchester Healthcare Limited submitted an appeal against the decision to the Planning Inspectorate, who have now published their decision to dismiss the appeal.

As part of the appeal the appellant submitted a photographic analysis, a building condition survey and budget costing, which were not before the council when it made its decision.

The main issue considered by the planning inspector was the effects of the proposed development on the significance of designated and non-designated heritage assets.

The Planning Inspector's report says: "The appeal site has been vacant for several years. The appellant has provided a schedule of works and costings to bring the existing building back into use. However, neither document provides substantive evidence that an alternative use or an alternative built form would not be viable. As such, the evidence does not provide a clear and convincing justification for the harm arising from the demolition and the size of the replacement building. This does not therefore weigh in favour of the proposal."

The report adds: "The public benefits of the development would be high in the context of the need for this type of specialist accommodation. However, as the harm to the CA and the consequent conflict with the Act carries considerable importance and weight, it would outweigh the public benefits. Moreover, the harm to the NDHA from its loss, would in my balanced judgement be unacceptable, notwithstanding the benefits of the proposal."

The appellant had made changes to the design of the scheme from a previous iteration with a view to finding a solution, however, the planning inspector said this was not a matter for his consideration and his decision was made on consideration of the plans which were before Bradford Council when they made their decision.

The Planning inspector's report adds: "To conclude, the proposal would harm the significance of heritage assets."