Fears over‘ key part of education history’

DEVELOPMENT: Heritage guardians have raised concerns that the redevelopment of a derelict Bradford school could lead to the loss of a key part of education history.

The Life Church has plans to demolish the crumbling buildings that make up the ex-Wapping Road School and replace it with an educational building.

HERITAGE GUARDIANS have raised concerns that the redevelopment of a derelict Bradford school could lead to the loss of a key part of education history.

In March the Life Church, in Wapping Road, submitted plans to demolish the crumbling buildings that make up the former Wapping Road School and replace it with a two-storey educational building with a neighbouring 90-bed three-storey student accommodation building.

Although some features of the building would be retained, much of the historic school building would be totally replaced.

Wapping Road School opened in 1877 and was the first school in the country to have its own swimming pool.

It later played a central role in Margaret and Rachel McMillan’s efforts to improve conditions of children in the country’s schools.

It shut in 2000 and in recent years the Grade II-listed building has suffered arson attacks and vandalism that has left the building a shell.

Historic England and the Victorian Society have now objected to the plans, saying that although the buildings are in a poor state, their history makes them “nationally significant”.

Around 2,000 people worship at Life Church each week, and thousands more come from around the country to attend conferences. The centre is also home to Life Church College, which is “designed to equip men and women for leadership in every sphere of life and for Christian ministry”.

The church says that students attend the college from all over the world.

But they say more space is needed to help the college grow, including on-site accommodation for visiting students.

A response to the plans from Historic England says: “The buildings date from 1877-1897 and are highly significant as the physical remnants of a school which played a leading role in the provision of welfare and education to the working classes in the late nineteenth-century.

“The school is also significant for having the first swimming pool in a primary school in England, which still survives in the lower floor of the pool building.

“Whilst we acknowledge the difficulties presented by the site, we have consistently advised that greater effort should be made to retain and reuse more of the existing listed buildings.

The proposals would result in substantial harm.”

The group has also questioned whether the benefits of the redevelopment would outweigh the loss of the buildings.

The letter to Bradford Council from the Victorian Society says: “We object to the total loss of the Grade II-listed buildings and associated school house.

Although we recognise that the current owners are not responsible for the poor condition of the buildings, their poor condition is now their responsibility.”

Rob Hutcheson, project lead on the Wapping school development, said: “At Life Church we value all that Historic England and the Victorian Society represent. We are working closely with the planning team at Bradford Council, as we seek to preserve the spirit of the legacy left to us.

“It is in this spirit that Life Church has served the city of Bradford for over 40 years.

“The proposed redevelopment of the f or mer Wap ping Road School will be a great asset to our community.”

The buildings date from 1877-1897 and are highly significant. A response to the plans from Historic England.