Former court building to be turned into offices

A vacant 19th Century courthouse is to be converted into offices after sitting empty for almost 14 years.

The Keighley County Court building on North Street closed in 2012 but now Bradford Council has approved planning permission to convert it into office space.

Last year Magnus Construction Group announced it had purchased the building and planned to refurbish the property before making it their new head office.

Magnus is currently based at Thornton and has around 20 employees. It said it was looking to expand, and the Keighley offices would create an extra 10 jobs.

The application said there would be few external changes to the building, which sits within the Keighley Conservation Area.

Bradford Council's Conservation Officer Jon Ackroyd welcomed the plans and said the conversion would be a sustainable use for the "important building".

The main two-storey body of the building was constructed in 1831 and has a "distinctive" classical appearance, he added.

"It largely retains its original fenestration and appearance and makes a significant contribution to the fine townscape of North Street and the character of the conservation area," he said.

"The building has significance in its former historic use and its architectural contribution."

Highways officers said they did not expect the office to have a significant impact on highway safety or local parking, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

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