An historic Bingley building will be reborn as an apartment block with two new ground floor shops if plans for the former Conservative Club in Main Street get the go-ahead from Bradford planners.

Gilstead-based architect Jeff Redmile has submitted redevelopment plans to turn the double-fronted sandstone building into seven flats with business opportunities below.

“We will put in four flats on the existing upstairs floor, which used to be the concert room and then put in a steel frame to make a floor above that, which will have a further three flats in the roof void,” Mr Redmile said.

“They will all be one bedroom, with living room, kitchen and bathroom and be in varying styles because of the shape of the building. They will be very similar in floor size, but each will have its own individual character,” said Mr Redmile, who is working for a Bradford businessman who bought the long-empty property.

“And then downstairs we will create a pair of shops right on to the street.”

Because the building is within Bingley’s Conservation Area there will be no dramatic changes to its frontage.

“We don’t want to change too much of the property and will minimise any external alterations.

“For example, we will use the existing double glazing with some new roof lights, which will not be visible from the road,” said Mr Redmile, who knows the old club from time spent in Bingley Roundtable.

“Although I was never a member of the Conservative Club, my son had his engagement party here and I used to come in some times when we were collecting for the Roundtable,” he said.

Councillor David Heseltine (Con, Bingley) said he was glad one of Main Street’s major properties might be being brought back to life.

“Obviously the old club building has been out of ownership of the party for some time and its good to see someone has got concrete suggestions for new use,” said Coun Heseltine.