Council bosses issue friendly warning to would-be Temple Works buyers ahead of historic Leeds building's auction

Council bosses in Leeds have told prospective buyers of historic Temple Works that they will do everything in their power to protect one of the jewels in the city's heritage crown.

As previously reported by the Yorkshire Evening Post, the privately-owned building in Holbeck is due to be sold at auction this Thursday.

And, ahead of the sale, Leeds City Council today issued a statement in its capacity as the local planning authority.

In the statement, the council – which would handle any future planning applications for Temple Works – says it will “seek to preserve the important characteristics” of the Grade I listed building.

The council also tells potential buyers that it would “strongly resist any application to demolish” the site in part or whole.

And it says any proposals for the development of Temple Works should take into account its location within the Holbeck conservation area.

Fashion brand Burberry at one stage had an option to transform the building and nearby land into production facilities.

The scheme would have involved an overall investment of more than £50m and was expected to provide around 1,000 jobs.

But the plans were put on hold after the Brexit referendum and the building option was allowed to lapse in July.