ONE of the most prominent empty buildings in Bradford city centre could be converted into apartments.

Park House, a vacant seven-storey office building next to The Broadway shopping centre, at the entrance to historic Little Germany, could be turned into 59 flats.

The plans to convert the building, on the corner of Well Street and Vicar Lane, have been submitted to Bradford Council by developers Inverworth Limited, who say the building is “exceptionally located” for city-centre living.

The building, next to training centre The Skillshouse and opposite Debenhams, has underground parking for 36 cars, and the planning application says it is close to a “myriad” of transport links. The plans also include spaces for 40 bicycles.

There would be seven two-bed flats and 52 one-bed flats.

The application says: “The site must constitute one of the most sustainable within the whole of the borough, with the city’s principal shops, employment and leisure opportunities and numerous public transport opportunities a short walk from the site.”

It says the changes to the building will mainly be internal, with very few changes to the exterior.

The application falls under a scheme introduced in the Little Germany area by English Heritage in 2015, which makes it easier for developers to turn empty buildings into residential apartments. Numerous other buildings in the area have since been converted or are in the process of being converted.

Plans to turn Park House into apartments date back to 2007, when a planning application for change of use was granted, but the change never happened and the building remains classed as office use.

The Council’s highways department has already backed the scheme, saying the change from office use to apartments would reduce traffic to and from the site during the day.

A decision on the application will be made next month.

Plans to turn another Little Germany building into apartments were approved this week.

Iqbal Singh had applied to convert much of 38-42 Peckover Street, a row of 19th century townhouses, from offices to six flats earlier this year.

His application said the flats would be ideal in “providing city living now that Westfield Broadway Plaza shopping has been completed”.

Part of the building would be retained for office use.

Council planning officers described the properties as “key buildings” in the Little Germany conservation area, and said keeping the building in use would “maintain and enhance the appearance of the Little Germany Conservation Area”.

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