NEW magistrates court cells, which are part of a £4.5 million project to free up a key city centre site for redevelopment, are expected to open next week after a delay.

Construction began in August on the new custody suite for the Bradford and Keighley Magistrates' Court at the rear of the building which fronts on to City Park.

Once open, the new development is designed to allow the remainder of the former Tyrls police station, which is adjacent, to be demolished - which is expected to begin later next month. This will then open up the site for a new office block, paving the way for a new business district in the key city centre location.

The Tyrls building has been empty since 2007, but the cells have been in use by the magistrates’ court, which is connected to the building via an underground tunnel. This lead to only part of the building being demolished in 2010 as City Park was being built.

A notice posted on the door to the courthouse earlier this week confirmed the opening date had been put back to Tuesday, May 5, and that as a result any remand cases were being dealt with at Bradford Crown Court this week, then at Leeds Magistrates' Court over the bank holiday weekend.

An earlier notice had said the cells were expected to be ready from yesterday following the completion of work to ensure they were safe for both defendants and staff. It also referred to the "continuing cell build saga", with Gordon Airy, the deputy justices clerk, apologising for the inconvenience caused by the temporary measures.

The work to build the new cells as well as demolish the remainder of the former police station and clear the site for redevelopment is expected to cost £4.5m, with £2.2m of this being met by the Homes and Communities Agency. The remaining £2.3m is being paid for with cash secured by Bradford Council from the Regional Growth Fund.

Permission was granted in December for the remaining half of the old Tyrls police station to be demolished, along with outline approval for three new office blocks of between three and five storeys,

The office blocks, called One City Park, Two City Park and Three City Park, will provide 93,000 sq ft of grade A office space, enough to house 700 employees.

A spokesman for the HM Courts and Tribunal Service confirmed that the old cells were now no longer available to the court, which required the interim measure of remand cases being transferred to alternative courts, ahead of next week's opening date for the new cells.

He added: "This will provide the court with a modern, on-site cell accommodation."

Andy Taylor, the Council's economic development delivery manager, said: "Once everything relating to the new holding cells and van dock entrance is completed, the demolition of the Tyrls will take place, probably towards the end of May, to make way for a new prestige office development overlooking City Park.

"This will complete the regeneration of this prime location."