PLANS have been submitted to turn part of an industrial building in Lidget Green, Bradford, which was home to an illegally-run bazaar, into an auction house.

Start-up firm Ernest Haynes Ltd has applied to Bradford Council to change the use of the industrial unit and warehousing at Beckside Road to allow a weekly auction to be held there.

The site, which previously housed the Tradex bazaar, and prior to that was the home of Shires Bathrooms, is made up of a building of 24,000 square metres. The application relates to a unit of 2,880 square metres at the rear of the building.

A design and access statement accompanying the planning application states: "The proposal is a start up business. It is a new business to be managed by individuals with previous working experience in auction rooms.

"The goods to be auctioned will comprise primarily of furniture and electrical goods.

"The auction room will be used to facilitate a weekly auction to be held between the hours of 10am and 4pm. Public viewing of goods to be auctioned will take place on the proceeding day.

"For the remainder of the week goods will be received and taken away."

It is anticipated that the scheme will require five full-time and two part-time employees. There is also car parking available for 70 vehicles.

The statement continues: "The use represents a new business generating local employment opportunities and a facility to the district. it will facilitate spending within the district and prevent leakage to neighbouring districts, particularly Leeds, where similar businesses operate."

Work is now under way to clear the unit of the debris left from the previous use of the unit.

A previous bid to turn the site into indoor football pitches was thrown out last year after an appeal. A planning inspector upheld Bradford Area Planning Panel's earlier decision to reject the scheme over concerns at the loss of an employment site.

The site used to be home to the Tradex Bazaar, which was run without planning permission.

Despite being issued with stop notices by the council, father and son Mohammed and Khalid Saeed continued to operate the market arguing that their business was for tradespeople only.

The pair were later found guilty at Bradford Crown Court of contravening the stop notices.