New lease of life for Halifax town centre shop empty since fire in 2017
A bid to bring a Halifax town centre building empty since a blaze nine years ago back into use has been given the green light.
Planning permission has been granted for a retail unit and four apartments at 18 Southgate.
The premises – which used to house a Halifax branch of national retailer Game – has not been used since a fire destroyed large parts of the building in August 2017.
Approving the planning application, an officer’s report describes how currently on the site “a frame of a building has been constructed and unsightly, weathered hoardings, screen it from public view”.
The planning application sought the construction of a three-storey building with a basement level and loft space.
It said a retail unit with storage would be on the ground floor and four, one-bed flats would be on the first and second floors.
The planning officer’s report said the proposed building would result in a “substantial visual improvement to the unsightly steel frame currently on the site”.
The use of stone exterior walling and roof slates is welcomed and will appear adequately sympathetic to the existing terrace which the development would become part of,” it added.
"The use of a parapet wall would be a necessary and elegant solution to facilitate the development between existing historic buildings with varying roof pitches.
"The contemporary predominantly glazed shop front, whilst out-of-keeping with historic shopfronts in this location, would mirror contemporary retail developments elsewhere in the Town Centre Conservation Area.
"The works to the outbuilding to the rear would not be easily publicly visible, however are considered to visually improve the character and
appearance of this part of the building through its sensitive design and the use of materials consistent with the neighbouring properties.”
The fire at the building in 2017 involved the first and second floors, and the roof of what was then a four-storey mid-terraced commercial building.
At the peak of the blaze, around 80 firefighters were on the scene from various stations across the area.
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