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Court threat after Leeds school bulldozed
Developers who bulldozed a historic Leeds school without permission could face court action.
The former Elmfield Infants School, sold off by Leeds City Council in 2007, was to have formed part of a new housing scheme in Bridge Street, Morley.
Wakefield-based owner Heritage Holdings was given planning permission on condition the facade of the old school – designed by the architect of Morley and Dewsbury Town Halls – remained in place.
However, last week, the firm sent in demolition experts and knocked the Victorian schoolhouse to the ground.
They claim the building had been left unsafe by repeated vandal attacks.
But furious local councillors say the demolition was an "outrage" and have threatened legal action.
Coun Judith Elliott (Morley Borough Independent, Morley South) said: "To have just gone and knocked that school down is outrageous. These were good plans and a lot of time and energy was spent making sure these were the right plans.
"This developer has ridden roughshod over the whole planning process. The arrogance of it is astonishing.
"This is nothing less than developer vandalism and we will be asking for a vigorous legal challenge to be lodged."
Mayor of Morley Coun Terry Grayshon added: "This act of destruction cannot be left unchallenged."
Director of Heritage Holdings, Stephen Hirst, said his company had had "every intention" of refurbishing the original building into apartments.
But says he was told by the council's environmental health department that the school was in a "dangerous condition" – a claim the council firmly denies.
He says he then took advice from an independent surveyor and was advised to pull it down.
Mr Hirst said "We took responsible measures – we had no other choice due to the vandalism of the building.
"Lead had been taken off the roof. They had taken slates off, were pulling up the floors and structural stonework had been removed. It was in danger of falling down.
"If someone had been injured there would have been problems for us as directors. We acted responsibly."
He then added: "If they (the council] wanted to keep it as a school, they shouldn't have taken 600,000 from us.
"They want to take the money, keep the building, then take action against me because I've demolished it. Maybe someone should just tell me what I'm supposed to do. It is (hard enough] trying to earn a living in this country."
Leeds City Council says the demolition now makes planning permission for the Elmfield school invalid and the developers would have to reapply.
They are also considering action against Heritage Holdings for not seeking a demolition order.
A spokeswoman said: "The developers have forfeited their planning permission for the conversion of the building for dwellings, by demolishing the frontage of the original building and they can not continue their work under this plan.
"We also investigating the notification given to the council by the site owner and contractors of the demolition, which is required by the Building Act 1984."
The school was designed by G A Fox in the 19th century. He built Morley Town Hall, now a grade one-listed building, in 1895 and Dewsbury Town Hall in 1889.
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