BRADFORD Council has confirmed it is selling one of the two disused former college buildings in Keighley town centre.

The local authority has accepted an offer of an undisclosed sum for the old Keighley College building in Cavendish Street. The buyer is the Utley Centre Limited, a charitable organisation linked to the Muhammadi Mosque in Showfield.

The centre has revealed it has big plans to create a new mixed-use business and enterprise centre. Project manager and property developer, Raza Israil, said while the scheme is at an early stage, he wants to address speculation the building will become a mosque.

He added: “People are thinking because it is a mosque-related project, it is somehow going to be a mosque. That is contrary to the plans. We are actually making a business centre.” He added there are no plans to use the building for an Islamic school. Councillor Michael Westerman said he felt Bradford Council had not achieved best value for money, losing potential council tax revenue by not accepting a rival bid to turn part of it into new apartments. “This could have helped alleviate our housing problem, rather than just make a quick buck” he said.

A Bradford Council spokesman said: “We have a legal duty and a responsibility to council taxpayers to consider best value when disposing of surplus assets.

“The council has accepted an offer for the purchase of the Cavendish Street building following a competitive marketing exercise.”

Mr Israil said the Utley Centre intended to use the property for a number of purposes, including back-to-work schemes to tackle unemployment, and an office ‘hot-desks’ initiative: “We’ve done a feasibility study and a comprehensive business plan, which is sensitive to the needs of the community. We have the budget in place and we’ve shown proof of funds to demonstrate our long-term commitment.”

There are also plans for shops as part of the 33,000 sq ft, five-floor building.

Mr Israil added: “We have the best of intentions, and hopefully we will see a project that can work and can bring the building back to its former iconic state.”