A FORMER rugby union club building can be refurbished and re-opened as a café after plans were approved by Bradford Council.
The vacant Wibsey Rugby Union Football Club building on High Street is a Grade II listed building that dates back over 200 years.
This Autumn Bradford based company Decrypt Ltd submitted a planning application to convert the building into a “cafe with a private dinning area and games room.”
It said the building was a “locally significant heritage asset” and the new use would bring it back to life.
The plans have now been approved by Bradford Council, along with a separate application for listed building consent for the works.
The RUFC building dates back to the late 18th/early 19th-century, and was originally built as two cottages.
The application said: “The premises are currently unoccupied and have been vacant for a period, leading to concerns over the building’s ongoing maintenance, vitality, and potential deterioration.
““The proposed café and hub will provide a welcoming space for local residents, supporting social inclusion, and open to local activities.
“Bringing the building back into beneficial use will prevent further decline and help safeguard its long-term future.”
There had been one objection to the plan, claiming the business would be a take away and not a café.
Approving the application, planning officers said: “No parking is existing or would be proposed as part of the proposals.
“While the café use would likely present some higher degree of vehicle movements than the previous use, these would not be considered so excessive as to warrant severe harm to highways safety- especially considering the good standards of vehicular visibility on the adjacent highway.
“Beyond this it is noted that the site would be situated in a sustainable urban location with good access to public transport. The proposal is thus considered acceptable in regards to highways safety, and the retained lack of vehicular parking.”
“The one objection received principally cites that the premises would function as a hot food takeaway as opposed to a café as stated.
“In response, it is noted that ample evidence has been provided to satisfactorily demonstrate the proposed café use.
“Any unlawful land use would be for planning enforcement to action as appropriate.”
One condition of the approval is that the café can only open between 9am and 8pm on Mondays to Saturdays and from 10am to 6pm on Sundays.
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