A HISTORIC masonic lodge could be demolished to make way for 16 new homes.

Plans have been submitted to Bradford Council to raze the building, at Spring Bank Place, Manningham, for the development, while an adjoining building will be retained and brought back into residential use.

While the building is unlisted, it lies within the Apsley Crescent Conservation Area, which developed during the prolonged boom in Bradford’s textile industry during the mid 19th century.

Many of the villas and terraces were built for textile merchants and manufacturers and other tradesmen and professionals who were attracted to the town.

But the building has been vacant for many years now and is in a “poor condition following many more years of underinvestment”.

The application says: “13 and 14 Spring Bank Place (meeting hall excluded) were designed and constructed as residential dwellings and are the oldest villas in Apsley Crescent Conservation Area to which they make a strong positive contribution.

“The property has been vacant for over five years and has suffered from many more years of underinvestment.

“It is vital that a new use is found before they deteriorate further. The residential use proposed is appropriate and entirely consistent with the repair and long-term conservation of the villas.

“Furthermore, it provides an opportunity to reduce and improve the hardstanding to the front of the buildings, which is damaging to the setting of the villas, nearby listed buildings and the street scene of Spring Bank Place.

“However, conversion back to residential dwellings is not financially viable without new-build development that necessitates some loss of open space and mature trees.”

It says the extent of open space and tree loss required will be “significant”

The proposal also includes the demolition of the 1920s meeting hall.

“Whilst not devoid of all merit, this dominating building arguably detracts from the older, more refined and more significant villas,” it says.

It says that, on balance, the heritage benefits of the proposal outweigh the negatives and the development would “tie in seamlessly”.

“The host site and surrounding listed buildings would not suffer any detrimental effect through the proposed works; rather, the client is willing to invest handsomely in the development of the site in order to positively enhance the local and wider area,” says the application.

It says that it would “maintain and respect the surrounding heritage assets and further provide the local community and prospective owners with a housing development located within the heart of the community – giving an added vibrancy and attraction to the area”.

The application adds: “There is a strong demand for residential units and this is proved by current government statistics indicating a drastic shortage of housing throughout the UK.

“Our proposal is to maximise the use of the site to meet the current requirements but also to provide well-built, high quality family homes which have strong architectural features that improve the vitality of the area and build pride for future residents that live within them.”