Former St Marys RC School, Batley
Proposal to demolish a former nunnery and school in Cross Banks Conservation Area, Batley:
Demolition in a Conservation Area should be resisted unless the most urgent circumstances present themselves. Demolition can not be justified because of commercial interests, because by definition designated heritage assets are irreplaceable.
This is such a building. The extended school was finished in 1898, 30 years after the original school, and can not be considered a latter modern extension. It is a beautiful building, that is attached to adjacent listed church, which makes this cluster of buildings a unified campus.
The nunnery is even older and . As admitted to in the heritage statement, all the buildings add significant value to the heritage townscape and the frontage of Upton Street.
The proposed terraced row. Inappropriate for a conservation area
Troubling is the reference to extensive pre-application conversations that have been had out of the public eye, which have apparently established the principle of demolition already. Planning decisions can not be tacitly made prior to public engagement.
The number of ‘anonymous’ public comments supporting the proposal is also circumspect. I wouldn’t be surprised if the 18 anonymous comments were all made by the same party.
Sadly a crownfunding campaign didn’t make enough money to save the building, but it is a clear indicator of the civic importance the building holds for the people of Batley.
Much of the Cross Banks Conservation Area is a grave yard, and so the loss of these two buildings would see a significant amount of the Victorian fabric removed. If it goes ahead, I can not see how Conservation Areas offer any protection as a planning designation.
The Demolition Register 
I believe that demolition is imperative the site at present is in a dangerous state and is being used as a drug den and other anti social behaviour surely it would be of better use to the community if it was demolished and turned into affordable housing which the community is in desperate need of and also improve the look of the area
why not repair the buildings then? why must be knock them down? The carbon footprint would be much lower, and we would retain a beautiful historic building in a town which has had so much of its heritage destroyed already
How’s best way to make a FIRST CONTACT?
Keep your eye on this school please.
Maybe grade 2 listed?
Destroyed by fire in April 2024.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/DewsburyPics/permalink/10159609125836568/?app=fbl
Beautiful building. Sad to see it in such a state
Sadly, this building is not listed, so it will be difficult to protect it against demolition. I would recommend applying to Historic England to get it listed straight away
Dear Demolition Register
Thanks for letting me know the situation.
I arnt really competent or experienced enough to register with Historic England.
Do you have an appropriate link to start that process
Regards
Barry Fearnley
Sent from Outlook for Androidhttps://aka.ms/AAb9ysg
unfortunately it will be unlikely the building would be considered for listing. But its always worth a try:
https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/protect-historic-places/apply-for-listing/