(Image: T&A)
What is the Public Notice Portal?
The Public Notice Portal carries statutory public notices published in local newspapers and is the fastest and most effective way of finding out what is happening in YOUR neighbourhood.
Search the Public Notice Portal RETROSPECTIVE plans for a city centre education provider that opened in a listed office building last year have been submitted to Bradford Council.
CECOS College converted two buildings in the historic Little Germany area of the city centre into a new Bradford campus last September.
The organisations converted two office buildings – Kelso House on Burnett Street and Parkgate House on Park Gate – into education facilities as part of their expansion into Bradford.
Now, nearly a year later, a retrospective application for the change of use has been submitted, along with a listed building consent application as Kelso House is Grade II listed.
That building dates back to the 1860s and is a former warehouse building from the time where the Little Germany area was the centre of the world’s wool trade.
CECOS College in Little Germany
(Image: T&A)
What does the application say?
The application says the existing office space has been converted into multiple classrooms, an IT training room/computer lab, IT suites, library, student dining area, kitchen and seating areas.
The planning application says: “CECOS Computing International Ltd operates as a further/higher education provider delivering computing-related courses.
“The proposal comprises the change of use of the building from office use to a college of further/higher education, retaining the existing building envelope, footprint and external appearance in their entirety.”
It says the fabric of the listed building will not be altered, with the application adding: “No extensions, external alterations or changes to the building's height, massing or fenestration are proposed.
“All works are internal, comprising the removal and formation of internal stud and cavity partitions, as shown on the proposed floor plans and identified in the drawing legends.
“The building will be used as an educational establishment providing classroom-based and computer-based teaching space, together with retained staff, administrative and library.
“The existing ground floor communal facilities within Kelso House and Parkgate House are retained without alteration.
“The proposal makes efficient re-use of existing city-centre commercial floorspace for an active education use, in a sustainable, well-connected location.
“Access arrangements are unchanged from the existing building.
“It is respectfully submitted that the proposal represents an appropriate and sustainable reuse of the building and that planning permission should be granted.”
When are the decisions expected?
It says the change of use has created 10 full-time jobs.
The college opens between 9am and 6pm on Monday to Friday.
Decisions on the two applications are expected in October.