A 200-YEAR-OLD former pub is set to be converted into six new flats after Bradford councillors gave their backing to the plans.

Members of the Friends of the Kings Arms Community Benefit Society worked for a year to try and save the pub of the same name in Highgate, Heaton, but were beaten to the property at auction by a private developer, Sijad Bahadur.

The group wanted to buy the building (pictured) to create Bradford’s “first community pub”, and raised more than £110,000 to try and secure the property via a community shares scheme. After buying the building, which is listed as an Asset of Community Value, Mr Bahadur had stated he was open to working with the group to lease the ground floor as a pub, but said he did not receive any offers.

Members of the Bradford Area Planning Panel approved the redevelopment plans yesterday.