A PROMINENT eyesore building in Keighley town centre is to finally receive a much-needed makeover.

Approval has been given to transform the historic Victoria Hotel in Cavendish Street into flats and shops.

Councillors have welcomed the decision by Bradford planners, which includes conditions to ensure the distinctive Victorian frontage remains.

Developer Harendra Patel must make sure windows and doors on the renovated three-storey building are in keeping with its heritage status.

The former pub and hotel is regarded as a gateway to the town, lying at the junction with East Parade and almost opposite the Edwardian shopping promenade in Cavendish Street, close to the railway station.

Keighley Mayor, Cllr Javaid Akhtar, is delighted the former nightclub and music venue now had a positive future.

He said: “The Victoria Hotel is an iconic building in the centre of town, and it’s been empty for too long.

"It’s good that Bradford Council has also stipulated the outside features must remain.”

District councillor Abid Hussain, who represents Keighley Central ward, said: “I’m very pleased something is going to be done about the building.

“I think the whole community will be pleased because it’s a gateway to the town centre and it’s been empty for three years.”

Fellow Keighley Central councillor, Khadim Hussain, said the Victoria Hotel’s transformation would complement other coming improvements, such as a £10 million business park in nearby Dalton Lane, a one-way system in the town centre and the widening of Hard Ings Road.

He added: “There are so many other developments taking place in Keighley. Bringing this building back into use is good news."

Mr Patel’s company, Cavendish Keighley Properties Ltd, wants to convert the Victoria Hotel into four ground-floor shops with nine self-contained apartments on the two storeys above.

Planning permission includes conditions to ensure the building’s existing windows are retained and restored, and new wooden door openings will be in keeping with existing ones.

Council planners said the conditions were to preserve the “setting and significance of the heritage of asset”.

The council’s design and conservation team, in a report to the planning panel, admitted the 19th century building is not in a conservation area and is not a listed building.

But the officer added: “It is a fine Victorian building with attractive architectural detailing and makes a positive contribution to the streetscape.

“The building is considered to be an undesignated heritage asset, and is located within the setting of a parade of Grade II listed shops on the opposite side of Cavendish Street.

The conservation officer welcomed the “sympathetic” alterations proposed for the ground floor, and the developer’s intention to keep existing decorative stonework.

He added: “The proposal will result in the loss of a public house hotel function, which was the original intended use of the building.

“However, as the property has been vacant for some time and its condition is beginning to deteriorate, the proposal is welcomed. It should bring the building back into sustainable use, which will help ensure its future maintenance.”

lWhat do you think? We welcome letters on this or any other subject. E-mail richard.parker@keighleynews.co.uk or write to the Content Editor, Keighley News, 80-86 North Street, Keighley, West Yorkshire BD21 3AG. Please include your full name, address and daytime telephone number.