CONVERTING an empty Grade II listed city centre office building into flats would help preserve its future, according to planning officers.

Bradford Council has this week approved an application by Balbir Panesar to alter 6 Piccadilly to create eight, one bed flats.

His application says the building, in a conservation area, had been “vigorously marketed” as offices with little success. It adds: “Some of the interior spaces are damp and timber works are rotting due to little maintenance.”

The building, just off Kirkgate, dates back to the early 19th century, and the flats would be spread out over its three floors, attic and basement.

Planning officers said that although some “significant” changes would have to be made to the building to accommodate fire escapes for the flats: “This harm to the historic importance of this building is outweighed by the significant weight that is attached to the fact the proposal would derive a benefit from ensuring maintenance and upkeep of a building within a conservation area.”