AN eyesore pub that “has become a drug den” has been earmarked for demolition.

The Kingswood Arms pub, located on a busy junction at Cutler Heights Lane, Dudley Hill, is approaching two decades of dereliction, and is regarded as one of the biggest eyesores in the city.

Previous plans to re-develop the site have stalled, but now the owners have revealed they are planning to knock the building down this summer.

They say Bradford Council has been in touch with them to raise concerns over the state of the building, and claiming it is being used as a drug den..

One local Councillor says the pub, on a key route into the city, offers a poor first impression to visitors in Bradford.

Templer Management has submitted a planning application to demolish the pub, saying that, if approved, work would start late July.

Plans to redevelop Wakefield Road pub site refused by Bradford Council

Giving a reason for the demolition, the application says: “As informed by the Department of Health and Wellbeing, Environmental House, the property has become a drugs den and is a danger as it is not stable.”

When the Telegraph & Argus visited the site, doors and windows had been forced open and the grounds were covered in litter.

A Bradford Council spokesperson, said: “We have been in contact with the owner of this site for some time about the continued need to make sure the building is kept secure from unauthorised access.

“The demolition of the building has been instigated by the owner possibly to negate the need to keep boarding it up each time unauthorised access occurs.

“The planning application will be determined in line with our normal policies and procedures.”

A decision on the application is expected next month.

Previous plans for the site, including demolishing the pub and building a car wash in its place, have never been followed through, despite permission being granted.

Hassan Uzzaman Khan, a Labour councillor for the Bowling and Barkerend ward, has long called for something to be done with the building, saying he regularly receives complaints about its condition.

He said: “It is a huge eyesore for the area. Everyone wants to see something happen with the site. I hope planning officers approve this.

“The site really needs to be made safer. It is really dangerous - the building is really not in a good condition and it could fall down at any time.

“People are always complaining about it, but as a Council we are limited in what we can do if the owner doesn’t want to do anything.

“We want to see some action here. It is a gateway to the city, in a very eye-catching position, but we have this eye sore site.”

Earlier this month Bradford Council granted planning permission to demolish another empty pub, The Gallopers on Wakefield Road. However, a separate application to build a restaurant and retail park on the site were refused.