Decision Maker: Council

Outcome: Recommendations Approved

Is Key Decision?: No

Is Callable In?: No

Date of Decision: December 9, 2025

Purpose:

Content: The Leader of the Council provided the following response to the public question that had been submitted:   Question   In relation to a FOI Request made by myself on the 05/11/24 in relation to the grade 2 listed Cotton Mill in Keighley I was informed on the 03/12/24, that "The Enforcement investigation is ongoing in consultation with English Heritage and our own Conservation Team." In response to question asked by myself at the Council meeting held 7 days later on the 10/12/24 I was informed that "planning enforcement team have been involved in the recent past to ensure that the Grade II* listed Old Cotton Mill remains in a safe condition". Since this enforcement investigation ceased just prior to the Council meeting, what was the conclusion of this investigation and why is the Council allowing this historic grade 2 listed building to fall down?   Response:   This relates to a complex and ongoing planning enforcement case, together with activity associated with unauthorised works to a Grade 2* listed building, which is also on Historic England’s Building at Risk Register. The enforcement investigation is ongoing and has not ceased. The Council is gathering important evidence to determine next steps.   The power to take planning enforcement action is discretionary and the Council is bound by several legal principles in how it exercises this discretion, including taking action proportionately, reasonably and ensuring procedural fairness and process. This includes taking into account the particular circumstances of a development.  In this case, Officers have been carefully monitoring and inspecting the property over the last 12 months to assess the potential harm of unauthorised development on the mill complex, to assess evidence on whether it would be expedient to enforce and to inspect the old mill building in terms of public safety, through our Planning Enforcement team, Conservation Team and our Building Control teams.   Whilst the Council has attempted to, and will continue to try to resolve this without recourse to formal planning enforcement action/court action by contacting the owner of the property, it is now at the point where Officers are formally considering the commencement of enforcement action and/or legal proceedings against the owner of the property. Decisions regarding enforcement activity are taken in accordance with the protocols set out in the Council’s Constitution, including taking into account the role and function of the Regulatory and Appeals Committee and planning law.