Drive-through plan for former ballroom building

A former ballroom could be demolished and replaced with a drive-through coffee shop.

Developers want to knock down the Venue 73 nightclub in Bradford Road, Brighouse, in order to build a new Starbucks.

Originally opened in 1937 the building has been used as a cinema, bingo hall and was home to The Ritz Ballroom from 1981 to 2017.

According to an application from EG on the Move Ltd the site has been empty for five years, suffers from damp and is in need of a complete change.

Supporting statements on behalf of the applicants claim the premises has been subjected to anti-social behaviour and the police "regularly" had to attend as a result.

The agent said some public consultation had been held and overall well supported, though some people had raised concerns over road safety.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, a report showed a number of letters of support had welcomed the development.

The applicant said, if approved, the new building would include some art deco stylings as a nod to the building's past, with limited hours vehicle charging included on site.

The building previously hit the headlines in 2017 when lawyers from the Ritz Hotel ordered its owner to change its name or face legal action.

The building closed as a ballroom later that same year and as a live music space in February 2020.

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