AN INNER city building used as the front for an immigration scam is to be transformed in a million pound redevelopment which could see a key part of the venue change colour.

The Palace, a function venue and shisha lounge in City Road, Listerhills, Bradford, has been virtually demolished with only a few walls remaining in readiness for the development.

But more detailed designs are now being considered by Bradford Council planners which would involve cladding a cantilever section of the new building in a "chameleon" material which is finished with a crystal layer.

Depending on the angle and the effect of the light, the panelling appears to dramatically change colour.

It would also be rebranded as Maddisson and would be used for hosting events. The new building has a very similar footprint to the old Palace building, but is designed to be more modern and eye-catching.

Abdul Gafoor Malik is behind the new plans.

In a report to planners, architect Josh Harling, of Sunbridge Road firm Yeme Architects, states: "The proposal is to create a multi-use building for events and weddings by demolishing parts of the existing building and extending with internal reconfiguration to provide a well-designed high quality multi-functional building."

It adds: "The main entrance shall be a grand statement and clearly identifiable. A second floor shall be created with a distinctive cantilevered structure over the main entrance which gives the building the sense of high quality; the engineering of the cantilever shows the dedication the client has to a high quality design."

The report also states that the shisha lounge did not comply with smoking regulations, had problems with anti-social behaviour, and that the venue itself did not attract many weddings or events.

The Palace was used for a large-scale immigration fraud which emerged when disgraced former councillor Khadam Hussain was jailed in November 2014 after masterminding the cynical scam to make money.

It also emerged that the shisha lounge extension at the venue had been built without planning consent and Hussain, a former Conservative councillor, had been trying to get permission for it retrospectively before he was jailed.

Permission was granted in December 2014 and an earlier version of plans to demolish part of the single-storey red brick and render building and redevelop it was approved in September last year.

Mr Harling told the Telegraph & Argus that the latest application involved some design changes and the addition of the "chameleon" panelling.

The proposals also include repairs to the cobbled street nearby

A decision is expected to be made by Bradford Council planners in July.