Plans to turn the former YMCA building in Little Horton, Bradford, into a restaurant with bedsits above were approved yesterday despite hundreds of objections to the scheme.

Bradford firm Bentley Carter Developments wants to renovate the grade II-listed building on Little Horton Lane, for which it has applied for listed building consent.

The plans involve operating a restaurant on the ground floor between 5.30pm and 11pm, and creating eight bedsits on the first floor. There would also be a car park, as well as gates and railings, and the addition of extraction flues.

However, it is the number of parking spaces – at only six – which has brought complaints from nearby residents concerned about the knock-on effect to on-street parking in the area.

One objector told Bradford Planning Panel that although they embrace new businesses coming to the area, they did not believe the premises was suitable for a restaurant.

He said a 300-signature petition had been gathered and that people were baffled by the highways officers’ lack of concern over the parking situation.

Councillor Nazam Azam (Lab, City) added that residents were concerned that a restaurant could also be used as a venue for Asian weddings, which would attract hundreds of cars to the area, as well as noise. But officers responded by saying that any restaurant could host private parties, so it could not be prevented through a condition.

Coun Azam also said that no details had been provided of the restaurant’s capacity or even what type of restaurant it would be.

Officers told the committee members that they recommended changes to parking rules outside the building, including the introduction of double yellow lines. They also said that they were happy with six parking spaces for the eight bedsits.

The plans were passed unanimously under the conditions that double yellow lines are painted on the road outside the property.

Councillor Shabir Hussain, chairman of the panel, said: “It is a building that has been out of use for a long time and we could either decide to leave it there for years to come or improve it for people in the area.

“The plans are for one-bedroom flats, so we think the parking is sufficient.”