Plans approved for apartments in Ilkley town centre landmark building

Dalesway House in the South Hawksworth Street car park

An application seeking permission to convert office space within Dalesway House in Ilkley town centre into residential apartments has been granted.

Bradford Council, who owns Dalesway House on South Hawkesworth Street, made the Permission in Principle application in June, looking to covert the upper floors of the building into between six and nine apartments.

A Permission in Principle [PIP] applications settles whether a housing site is acceptable before it is designed.

Bradford Council bought Dalesway House and the adjoining Moors Shopping Centre in 2019 for £6.25 million. Both were placed back for sale for £3,950 million in 2025 with estate agent Cushman & Wakefield.

During the consultation process, Ilkley Town Council recommended that the permission in principle application be approved.

Granting the PIP for three years, Bradford Council planning said:  "In dealing with this planning application the Local Planning Authority adopted a positive and proactive manner. The Council offers a pre-application service for minor and major applications and applicants are encouraged to undertake this. Proposals are assessed against the National Planning Policy Framework,

"Local Plan for Bradford policies and Supplementary Planning Documents, which have been subject to proactive publicity and consultation prior to their adoption and are referred to in the reason for approval or reason(s) for refusal. The Local Planning Authority has sought solutions to problems arising by liaising with consultees, considering other representations received and liaising with the applicant/agent as necessary. Where appropriate, changes to the proposal were sought when the statutory determination timescale allowed."