Bradford Council is investigating possible enforcement action after the owner of a Grade II-listed building erected a new shopfront without planning permission.

The authority has written to Abdul Shakoor, who has taken over a former bakery on Highgate in Heaton and turned it into Shakoor & Sons Convenience Store and Butchers.

Mr Shakoor has hit back at any claims he deliberately flouted planning laws, stating he revamped an existing wooden shopfront as it was cracking and letting damp into the property.

Speaking to the Telegraph & Argus, he said he had replaced wooden window frames with aluminium to stop water getting into the shop, which he said he opened “two weeks ago” after buying the building on July 12.

He said: “When I bought the building, my solicitor said if I wanted to change it I had to use wood or aluminium, so I just put in aluminium. He just said I couldn’t use PVC.

“My solicitor said you can’t do anything without this and that, but if you want to change the front, aluminium is good. The wood was breaking.”

Mr Shakoor said he had received a letter from the Council confirming that they had been informed of his breach of planning regulations, explaining to him that prior permission would have been required.

The letter, sent in mid-September, stated that a Council officer would visit the property to inspect the work, but Mr Shakoor said no such inspection had taken place.

He said that he would be speaking to his solicitor to organise applying for retrospective planning permission for the work carried out, which he stated had been limited to the front of the shop, also confirming he would be requesting approval for new safety shutters to be housed within the store.

Asked what action it was taking against Mr Shakoor, a spokesman for Bradford Council said: “We do have an enforcement enquiry on this property and it relates to work which has been carried out to the former bakery at 20-22 Highgate, Bradford.

“This work includes internal and external alterations to form a butchers shop. No formal enforcement action has been instigated at this early stage of the investigation.

“The property is a Grade II-listed building, therefore Listed Building Consent and planning permission is required for the works carried out.

“The structural alterations to the property may also require Building Regulations.

“A letter has been sent to the owner of the premises requiring him to take steps to address the breach of planning control.”