A bid to demolish a “landmark” mill building has been blocked after a conservation officer argued that it should have similar protection to a neighbouring listed building.

An application to demolish sections of Vale Mill, near Oakworth Station, was recently submitted to Bradford Council.

The “permitted development” application, by Jonathan Heaton, said the demolition would be a precursor to the site being redeveloped as housing.

A listed section of the mill would be retained and converted as part of the plans.

placeholder image — Vale Mills, near Oakworth Station

But one of the buildings facing demolition was a four-storey mill building that is not listed.

The application to demolish the building has now been refused after Bradford Council conservation officer Jon Ackroyd said the four-storey building was a “landmark presence” that should be treated as part of the listed building.

Officers said it could not be demolished under permitted development rules, and there must be “compelling justification” for its loss.

The mill complex is on Vale Mill Lane, on the border of Cross Roads and Oakworth, and next to the junction with Mytholmes Lane.

The road is infamous for its blind bend, with “Hoot!” painted on a wall to encourage drivers to sound their horn before navigating the tight bend.

The building on this corner is Grade II-listed.

The application had said: “The buildings to be demolished are in poor condition and have deteriorated.

“The site has been occupied, but will become vacant by the end of 2026 and therefore unable to maintain buildings insurance – it will also be at risk of vandalism.

“Many buildings contain asbestos, which will be removed before demolition, which will further deteriorate the structures to be demolished.

“Once the site has been cleared and listed building secured, (the site is) proposed for residential redevelopment, including restoration of listed building into residential.”

Refusing the demolition request, planning officers said: “In considering whether the proposal benefits from permitted development rights, regard has been had to the heritage advice provided by Jon Ackroyd, conservation officer, in relation to the associated pre-application enquiry for the wider redevelopment of the site.

“The conservation officer advised that the four-storey mill building meets the tests of being a curtilage structure directly related to the listed buildings and is therefore to be treated as part of the listed building.

“The conservation officer further identified the building as making an important contribution to the historic group and as a landmark presence within the landscape.

“The conservation officer’s advice also notes that demolition of the four-storey mill would require compelling justification and confirms that the presumption in favour of retention applies.

“Having regard to the specialist heritage advice available, officers are not satisfied that the four-storey mill building constitutes a building capable of demolition.

“The evidence available indicates that the structure forms part of the listed building by virtue of its curtilage relationship with the principal listed building on the site and is therefore treated as part of the listed building.”

There had been two objections to the application, one citing the harm the demolition would cause to the character of the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway, which runs just yards from Vale Mills.