The conversion of a historic hall has hit a major hitch after a block of flats was built a metre too high.

Developers and builders at the Menston Hall project must gain new planning permission and complete the work by the end of March – or face losing nearly £800,000 of Government funding.

The work to create 30 new flats by redeveloping the main hall at the Low Hall Road site, building two new adjacent blocks and demolishing a 1960s-built extension, was on course for completion until someone suggested one of the three buildings looked too tall.

After an investigation by Bradford Council, it was found an arched building to the west of the hall was a metre too high and contravened the original planning permission granted to social landlord Incommunities.

They have submitted an entirely new planning application to the Council, which will be considered on Tuesday, February 22, to take into account the extra metre.

Incommunities and the Strategic Team Group, who are carrying out the work, are now hoping there will be no problems or delays with the planning application.

A report to the Council’s Area Planning Panel (Shipley), said the Menston Hall scheme, which will provide at least 22 affordable new homes, was given the all-clear after receiving £770,000 from the Kickstart initiative.

But it was only approved on the proviso the work was completed by the end of next month.

Things were on course until the Council received a complaint last month about the arched building. The report says the error was caused by mistakes in a drawing plan for the project.

“This discrepancy unfortunately progressed to site,” the report says.

Read more on this story in the Gazette & Observer.