18th Century pub demolished over safety concerns

An 18th Century pub in Bradford has been demolished after concerns about the safety of the building were found midway through work to convert it.

Contractors were working on transforming the derelict Grade II listed Hare and Hounds pub into a convenience store when they were told to vacate after a building inspection.

It had found "significant wall collapses and chimney stacks were found to be at immediate risk of falling."

Historic England said it was "deeply saddened" to hear of the demolition and would work with the Bradford Council to discuss the next steps.

Following the structural concerns, the council issued a Section 78 notice mandating the emergency demolition of the building.

The pub had been empty for many years and suffered from vandalism and arson.

But it looked like the building could be saved when planning permission to convert it into a shop was granted to MGM Property Investment earlier this year.

The planning approval involved a new extension being built on the listed pub and a separate new build unit on the pub car park, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

At the time, conservation officers on the council said the change of use would secure the future of the decaying listed building.

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