Pressure on council to reject plans for city’s historic pub

English Heritage and the Campaign for Real Ale are opposing the scheme for the disused Cock and Bottle in Bradford because it has an interior of national importance.

Bradford Council’s own conservation experts say the application should be rejected, a view backed by West Yorkshire Archaeology Service.

Members of the planning committee are being told by officers that they should approve the application as it will preserve the building and some of its features.

A report to today’s meeting says: “Given the fact that the pub has been unsuccessful in recent times it is considered a new use as a restaurant would protect what remains in the building as shown on the plans.

“The use as a restaurant would also enable members of the 
public to appreciate the detailing which is to be retained and enhanced.

“Whilst substantial harm to the historic significance of a listed building should only occur in exceptional cases it is considered the overall merits of this proposal outweigh the definable harm.”

The report notes that some internal alterations have already been carried out without permission.

It concludes: “Whilst acknowledging there will be a loss of certain heritage assets within this listed building the overall merits of the scheme are considered to outweigh this harm.

“In view of the benefits of bringing the building back into appropriate viable use and with this use retaining a significant element of the historic interest of the building for public benefit the scheme is considered to be acceptable.”

Campaigners are dismayed by the report and the fact that work has been carried out without permission.

Dave Gamston, of Camra, said that it was an “absolute disgrace” that work had been carried out already and council planners were backing the scheme.

“We hope councillors will see reality and the contemptuous approach to the planning system and our heritage.”

An expert from Camra, Dale Ingram, is expected to address councillors today.