Building in repairs row will be sold to council

A HISTORIC building is to be handed over to a council after its owners failed to carry out the necessary repairs.

Pioneer House, in Dewsbury town centre, will be taken out of the hands of the Stayton Group and sold to Kirklees Council following a Government ruling.

The Grade II listed building has been the subject of a lengthy dispute between Kirklees Council and the Stayton Group over its condition.

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This culminated in the council making a compulsory purchase order.

Yesterday an inspector’s report from the recent public inquiry was issued which upheld the council’s request.

The report described Pioneer House as “of considerable architectural interest and intrinsically linked to Dewsbury’s social history”. It added: “The building is also central to future regeneration of the town centre. Its preservation therefore is a matter of some importance nationally and locally.”

The inspector said: “Having concluded that the certainty required to preserve Pioneer House cannot be assured in the hands of the building owners or the objectors, the order is an appropriate way forward.”

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The inquiry heard that both repairs notices and urgent works notices had been served on the building’s owners requiring them to undertake maintenance to prevent its deterioration but the work required had not been carried out in a timely manner.

The inspector added: “With the level of repairs intended to be undertaken by the council with identified funds of £1.5m, the building would be more attractive to the market, with greater prospect for attracting funding.”

The council’s director responsible for regeneration, Ken Gillespie, said: “I am pleased with this decision as it allows us to move forward with our plans for Dewsbury.”