Hundreds sign petition for Saltaire community center plans

Hundreds of people have called on Bradford Council to reconsider allowing a building to be built in the center of a UNESCO World Heritage site.

A planning application to build a community and arts center on a car park in Saltaire was approved by planners in February.

The centre, which would be run by Shipley College on Caroline Street, would include classroom space and a visitor centre.

But nearly 800 people have signed a petition calling for the decision to be overturned.

Saltaire was built in the 19th century by the industrialist Titus Salt, who built houses for his workers next to the mills where they were employed.

It was designated a World Heritage Site in 2001.

A Freedom of Information request by a resident revealed that a body advising UNESCO had raised serious concerns about the arts center scheme.

Documents obtained by Kate Rawnsley show the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) has called for the plans to be reconsidered, the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) said.

ICOMOS also suggested replacing the car park currently on the site with allotments or a small park.

It said: “The proposal puts at risk UNESCO World Heritage status, which is crucial to our community’s cultural heritage and tourism.”

“Titus Salt’s vision was to provide a healthy environment for its factory workers. As most of the green spaces within the property have been eroded, this makes maintenance of the green spaces within the complex all the more essential.

“It is difficult to see how this site could be considered acceptable for a large new building.”

Since the documents were made public, 773 people have signed a petition to bring the planning application back before a planning committee.

But in response, Bradford Council said that ICOMOS comments were submitted as part of the pre-application process before the proposals were formally submitted.

He said those concerns were then addressed.

A spokesman added: “Bradford Council consulted Historic England as a statutory consultant, who expressed their support for the scheme, but no comments were received from ICOMOS during the formal planning process.

“Only consultation responses submitted as part of the full planning application can be considered by officers.

“This is standard practice across the country.”