Demolition of Crofton Redbeck Motel opposed due to ‘literary significance’

The demolition of a West Yorkshire cafe and motel should not go ahead because of its “literary significance”, a civic society has said.

Plans to demolish the Redbeck Motel in Crofton to make way for housing were submitted in January by developer Yorkshire Choice Homes.

However, Wakefield Civic Society objected as the motel features in a series of novels by David Peace.

The plans were also opposed by parish councillors.

The developer’s planning application to Wakefield Council has so far received 180 objections, including several highlighting the motel’s links to the series of books written by Mr Peace, who is originally from West Yorkshire.

His novels are set between 1974 and 1983 and are set against the backdrop of the Yorkshire Ripper murders.

Kevin Trickett, chairman of Wakefield Civic Society, said: “Redbeck features heavily in David Peace’s Red Riding Quartet, later made into a three-part Channel 4 series.

“This association gives it a recent historical, literary significance, and this is likely to increase in the future.

“David Peace, best known for The Damned United, is one of the greatest Yorkshire novelists of the last 30 years.”

Mr Trickett also raised concerns about the loss of woodland if the application is approved, adding that the motel is a local community asset.

Crofton Parish Council also opposed the proposed housing development for the Redbeck site, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

A letter to the council from parish clerk Rebecca Maindonald said: “Having already been subject to development in the recent past, facilities in Crofton were struggling to cope with additional capacity, which was only going to get worse.

“Presently, village doctors, schools, dentists and means of transport have been strewn about.

“Councillors were also extremely concerned about job losses once the Redbeck Cafe and Motel closed.”

Redbeck was established in 1969 and is open 24 hours a day, however the developer’s planning application said the business was “no longer viable”.

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