PLANS have been unveiled to transform the historic Victoria Hotel in Keighley into shops and flats.

The long-awaited project moved forward this month with the submission of a planning application to Bradford Council.

Owner Harendra Patel has applied for permission to create four ground-floor shops and nine upstairs apartments in the Cavendish Street building.

News of the application was welcomed by ward Councillor Khadim Hussain.

The application comes despite Mr Patel’s claims last year that the project might only go ahead if he secured a financial contribution from the Council.

The Victoria Hotel, which was built in the 19th century, closed as a pub in early 2013, and was bought that year by Mr Patel’s Leicester-based company Cavendish Keighley Properties Ltd.

Mr Patel’s latest plans reveal that the proposed ground floor would have two new entrances, cut into existing window openings to allow the existing space to be converted into four commercial units.

The first and second floors would be converted into nine self-contained flats – housing a total of 23 people – – which would have minimal impact on the exterior or core structure of the building.

In a design and access statement accompanying the application, the Victoria Hotel is described as architecturally valuable.

Following discussions with council officers, architects have made significant changes to their original ground floor plans so that many of the building’s original features can be kept.

The statement adds: “The existing ground floor entrance is prominent in design and is a feature we have identified to be retained.”

“The scheme has the opportunity to be a very exciting project that could enhance the image and quality of Cavendish Street.”

Bradford Councillors Abid Hussain and Khadim Hussain, whose Keighley Central ward includes the Victoria Hotel, have made repeated calls for the building to be brought back into use.

Cllr Khadim Hussain (Lab) said he was pleased something positive was finally being done.

He said: “I hope the project comes to fruition. It will create job opportunities. I would hope there are quality retail shops that bring increased footfall to the area.”

Cllr Hussain admitted he was disappointed that central Keighley has lost a hotel but he accepted such facilities were based on supply and demand.

He said: “The hotel has been out of use for some time, so we’ve lost it. Using the building for something else is better than not being used at all.

“The Victoria Hotel is part of the Cavendish Street heritage, like the restored canopy at the other side of the road.”