Eastbrook Hall: Plans approved for historic Yorkshire building saved by 'meddling' King Charles

Eastbrook Hall on Leeds Road is one of Bradford city centre’s most imposing buildings and was once known as the “Methodist Cathedral of the North.”

After years of dereliction in the early 00s, the “meddling” of then Prince Charles helped pave the way for a major regeneration scheme that saw the building saved.

It has since become a development of apartments and two ground floor businesses.

Earlier this year an application to convert two areas of empty space into additional businesses were submitted to Bradford Council.

One would see a lobby area at the front of the building converted into a retail unit, while the other would see basement space on the building’s Chapel Street side converted into a gym.

Both applications were submitted by M & N Builders Properties 3 Ltd. These two applications have now been approved by Bradford Council.

The application for the retail unit said: “The proposal seeks to reactivate a currently underutilised and vacant internal space by accommodating a general retail unit.

“This reuse will support the long-term sustainability and continued viability of Eastbrook Hall, contributing positively to its ongoing maintenance.

“All works will be restricted to non-significant areas and will not result in the alteration, removal, or loss of any listed fabric or features of historic or architectural interest.

“The building’s designated elements will remain entirely unaffected, and the proposed use is fully reversible, ensuring no permanent impact on the heritage asset.

“Accordingly, the proposal will preserve the special architectural and historic interest of Eastbrook Hall and its significance within the Little Germany Conservation Area, in full compliance with Listed Building Consent requirements.”

The application for the gym was to create gym space, male and female changing rooms and a sauna.

It also said the new business would boost the long term prospects of the listed building.

When the then Prince visited Little Germany in 2001 many of its buildings were rundown and disused, and Eastbrook Hall was in a derelict state.

As president of The Prince’s Regeneration Trust, Prince Charles had encouraged his charity to get involved in the area’s regeneration.

The project to regenerate the building cost £12m, and in 2008, King Charles returned to visit the building.

He is said to have declared frankly: “Being an inveterate interferer and meddler I couldn’t possibly stand back and do nothing.”