Former Victorian hotel 'coming back to life'

A Victorian hotel is "starting to come back to life" as refurbishment work gets under way to create new shops and apartments.

The former Victoria Hotel in Keighley is being converted into three commercial units and 10 one and two-bedroom apartments and is expected to be completed later this year.

Plans for the 19th Century building were approved by Bradford Council last year and the work has been partially funded with a grant from the Keighley Towns Fund.

Council executive member for economy, regeneration and planning, Andrew Judson, said the work was progressing well.

"We know it's been frustrating for local people to see such a key heritage asset standing empty for so long," he said.

"With significant restoration work now completed and more taking place every week, the building is really starting to come back to life."

Internal strip-out works have been completed, while extensive rewiring, plastering and other restoration works are now taking place, according to the council.

Keighley Towns Fund chair Tim Rogers said: "The refurbishment will bring new homes and commercial opportunities into the heart of the town and complements other successful regeneration projects already delivered through the Towns Fund."

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