{"id":793181,"date":"2026-02-27T19:36:19","date_gmt":"2026-02-27T19:36:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/793181\/"},"modified":"2026-02-27T19:36:19","modified_gmt":"2026-02-27T19:36:19","slug":"pudsey-town-hall-sale-agreed-by-council","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/793181\/","title":{"rendered":"Pudsey Town Hall sale agreed by council"},"content":{"rendered":"

By John Baron<\/strong><\/p>\n

Council chiefs have agreed to proceed with the sale of historic Pudsey Town Hall to an unnamed highest bidder.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s understood the successful bidder is proposing a residential and mixed use conversion of the building.<\/p>\n

Cash-strapped Leeds City Council received a number of bids as it looked to sell the building to help balance its books following 15 years of underfunding from central government and rising costs in departments such as adult social care. <\/p>\n

The council also said the four-storey building, built around 1890, was costing too much to maintain. The town hall had not been\u00a0open to the public since 2016 and had been partially used by\u00a0Pudsey\u00a0and District Civic Society for storage.<\/p>\n

The move comes despite despite significant local opposition, including local councillors and two petitions each with more than 1,000 signatures.<\/p>\n

The council\u2019s decision has been met with disappointment by the Pudsey Town Hall CIC, which had been hoping to use the building as a mixed-use community and\u00a0enterprise hub.<\/p>\n

\"pudsey-town-hall-8\"The council chamber at Pudsey Town Hall is preserved to this day, despite the council folding in 1974 when Pudsey was absorbed by Leeds. Photo: John Baron<\/p>\n

In a statement, the CIC said: \u201cAfter creating a sustainable future plan for our Town Hall, and working so hard over several years, the decision is incredibly disappointing.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are aware that there were at least two credible bids on the table that would have seen Pudsey Town Hall returned safely to the people of Pudsey \u2014 including our own fully considered and financially costed bid. Both of those community-focused proposals have now been rejected in favour of a residential conversion.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is difficult not to reflect on the position in 2023, when we were given an assurance that the future of the Town Hall was secure. At that time, the CIC was issued by the Council with a key-holding agreement and Pudsey & District Civic Society was granted a licence for the civic floor. That pathway could and should have been progressed. <\/p>\n

\u201cUnfortunately, shortcomings and interference in the wider process meant it stalled, and the opportunity to unlock the multi million pound heritage-led investment was lost.\u201d<\/p>\n

The CIC said members were happy to work with the new owners to protect historic features inside the building.<\/p>\n

\u201cDespite our deep disappointment, we want to be clear: our priority has always been the protection of Pudsey\u2019s civic heritage,\u201d they added.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are prepared to open constructive dialogue with the new owners to explore whether there is any possibility of safeguarding the historic civic floor \u2014 particularly the Council Chamber and associated heritage features. If there is an opportunity to work collaboratively to preserve at least part of the building\u2019s civic legacy, we will do everything we can to support that outcome.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs heritage guardians, our responsibility does not end with this decision. We remain committed to protecting Pudsey\u2019s historic assets and ensuring that the Town Hall\u2019s story is not lost.\u201d<\/p>\n

According to public records on Companies House<\/a>, the Town Hall CIC has five trustees, including James Denton, Tom Donnelly, Daniel Holah, Trish Smith and Damon Sugden.<\/p>\n

Any proposed future use of the building will be subject to planning consent.<\/p>\n

Earlier this month WLD reported the council rejecting Pudsey Town Hall CIC\u2019s application <\/a>to have the building registered as an asset of community value.<\/p>\n

Pudsey councillors Dawn and Simon Seary (Cons) and Trish Smith (Reform) all objected to the the Town Hall\u2019s sale, along with Calverley & Farsley Councillor Andrew Carter (Cons, Calverley & Farsley).<\/p>\n