A PLAN to open an Indian restaurant as part of the £1 million Sunbridge Wells Tunnels development has been submitted to Bradford Council.

The International restaurant, which has a base in Morley Street, Bradford, wants to open its second restaurant in the city in Ivegate at a vacant retail unit previously used as a Toni and Guy hair salon.

The two-floor site will feature the reception on the ground floor with a 60-seater restaurant on the first floor.

This application forms part of the second phase of the Tunnels project, which also includes a separate 100-strong capacity Rose and Crown pub, which dates back to the 17th century, at the back of the restaurant.

The project's first phase features 15 shops and a 1920s bar and is now due to open in April.

Under the new plans for the second phase of the project, a new shop arcade entrance would be created by removing the existing shopfront and creating a smaller front with a Victorian-style entrance. This would access the mid-level of the tunnels central atrium.

It is proposed to remove the existing shopfront and create an entrance to the Sunbridge Wells tunnel complex.

An International restaurant spokesman said: "We were given the opportunity to be part of Sunbridge Wells, which will be an excellent venue.

"We think it is a privilege to be part of Sunbridge Wells.

"We are still keeping our Morley Street restaurant open."

Sunbridge Wells, which will include 15 shops, five bars and two restaurants, was originally planned to open late in 2014, but the scheme was expanded and delayed.

The development brings back into use some buildings which have not been used for almost 90 years.

Graham Hall, of Yeadon-based developer Sunbridge Wells, said: "The site has already been stripped out.

"I don't think we will have a problem getting planning permission. It is all in keeping with revitalising Ivegate. It is a shame how it has been neglected for the last 20 years.

"The Rose and Crown will be a traditional ale house."

No objections have been raised to the application on Bradford Council's online page.

Meanwhile, Mr Hall added the opening date of the first phase of the development has been delayed from the end of March until mid to late April.

Five of the 15 shops have been occupied and will include a gentlemen's hairdressers and a T-shirt printers and lingerie shop.

Four out of the site’s five bars have also already been occupied.

The Tunnels' developers have applied for a licence to sell alcohol and are now waiting for some of the shops to come into the site and fit out their own individual spaces.

Meanwhile, developers unveiled new gates at the Upper Millergate entrance to the tunnels on Monday.

The black 8ft raw iron gates feature Sunbridge Wells written in gold lettering.

The gates, which cost £4,000 to make, have now been boarded up until the development opens at the end of March.

Similar gates will be at the site's Millergate entrance.