Bid to restore crumbling former gatehouse to Upper Shibden Hall

The former Gatehouse to Upper Shibden Hall, on Halifax Road, just outside Queensbury, has been subject to two failed planning applications in recent years.

In both cases the Shibden Estate Company planned to convert the structure into a house by restoring the existing building and constructing an extension.

However, in both cases this extension was deemed “excessive” and harmful to the surrounding Greenbelt.

Now the company has submitted a third application – this time leaving out the contentious extension.

If approved the house, on the border of Bradford and Calderdale, will have two bedrooms, a lounge, bathroom, kitchen and dining area and two parking spaces.

The previously refused plans were for a much larger house, with an extra master bedroom and larger dining area.

Shibden Estate Company said the conversion would help secure the future of the historically significant building.

A decision on the planning application is expected in May.