Plans for a new 40-stall Asian market likely to be refused by Council

Khadam Hussain has applied for retail use permission to turn The Palace Wedding and Function Hall in City Road into a 40-stall bazaar open four days a week.

However, Bradford Council planners are recommending that the application be refused.

In a report to the Council’s regulatory and appeals committee which meets on Thursday, John Eyles, major development manager, explains how as the site is not in a retailing centre, a robust retail assessment is required to show that there are no other “more favourable” sites available.

In addition, Mr Eyles describes the existing wedding hall use as “unauthorised”.

He states the reason for refusal as follows: “The proposal fails to demonstrate that the Class A1 retail use would not harm the viability of the existing local, district and city centres.”

Two letters of objection and a 120-name petition in support have been received by the Council.

Objectors fear additional traffic would exacerbate parking problems, while the petitioners believe the proposal will create employment and lead to regeneration.

A retail impact assessment accompanying the application states: “The application is submitted as the current user of the premises has realised the lack of demand in the locality for wedding and function halls due to the current increase in such premises and the demand for further premises in the Bradford area for specialised market stall operations.”

There are two authorised bazaars operating in Bradford – the Bradford Bazaar on Cemetery Road and the Marlboro Bazaar on Carlisle Road. But two others – The Bazaar at Drummonds Mill, and Tradex Bazaar at Beckside Road, Lidget Green – were issued with a stop notice and planning enforcement notice by the Council last year.

The Bazaar closed down in July. But Mohammed and Khalid Saeed, who run Tradex, are due to stand trial next month accused of contravening the stop notice by continuing to operate the market.