Council says banners ‘smothering’ listed former library should be removed

ENFORCEMENT action has begun after several unauthorised banners were put on a listed Bradford building.

The former Great Horton Library, on Cross Lane, has been “smothered” in banners in recent years, according to a conservation officer.

Now a listed building enforcement notice has been issued against the property, and if the signs and banners are not removed, the building owners could end up in court.

In spring 2021 a number of additions were made to the Grade IIlisted building without planning permission. The changes included installation of CCTV cameras, lighting and the large banners – which advertise a company called Uneek Homes. One of the banners states: ‘Investing in property and people.’

A retrospective planning application to keep the features was made to Bradford Council by Soifur Siddiqui in 2022, arguing that installing the banners was “mandatory” to protect the building’s windows.

The application said: “We have had banners installed at each window to protect the building’s exterior to prevent vandalism occurring as we have public pathway to the front and right side of the building.

“Our proposal ensures that this existing redundant building, which was in bad condition, is brought back into use with absolute minimum changes. So the installation of external lights, security cameras and banners was mandatory to protect the building.”

The application was refused last year, but the banners remain in place and last month the council issued a listed building enforcement notice.

It says: “Without listed building consent, 14 banner-type advertisements were installed on the North East and North West facing elevations.” The notice requires the owners to “remove the banner-type advertising and all means of fixing”.