A controversial plan to turn the grade II-listed Cock and Bottle pub into a restaurant has been recommended for approval.

The plan has dismayed campaigners at real ale group Camra, who say the pub’s historic interior is of national significance and should be kept in full.

The Council’s design and conservation team and the West Yorkshire Archaeology Advisory Service are also opposed to the idea. But Bradford Council planners believe the benefits of the scheme outweigh any harm to the city’s heritage. In a report to the Bradford Area Planning Panel, officers argue that keeping the building open as a traditional pub is not a viable option in the area, so giving the place a new lease of life as a restaurant would protect what remains of the interior and save it from vandalism, neglect and dereliction.

Owner Aftab Ali has submitted the application, which is for change of use from a pub to a restaurant and listed building consent for alterations to the building, in Barkerend Road.

Permission is not needed simply to change a pub into a restaurant, but any alterations would need planners’ approval.

The proposed alterations include removing the wall to a historic ‘snug’ room – work which has already taken place without permission, the report confirmed. Last month, Mr Ali told the Telegraph & Argus this work had been done for safety reasons, and the planners’ report reveals Mr Ali has kept the bricks just in case he has to put the wall back.

Mr Ali had also said he wanted to keep the vast majority of the pub’s historic features. The planners’ report said on balance, the benefits of the plan outweighed the harm which would be done to the pub’s interior. The final decision will be made by the Bradford Area Planning Panel on Tuesday.