A decaying Grade ll listed building could be brought back into use as a “new focal point” for an “area of decline” within Bradford city centre.

A planning application has been submitted for the “refurbishment of restaurant and kitchens” at 32 Manor Row, a former townhouse that dates back to 1820.

The vandalism-hit building has been out of action for many years, but most recently housed the Nawaab restaurant, which was established in 1988 by Muhammad Ishaq and Abdul Saheed and now has several branches, including one in Tong.

Abdul Saheed, a director of Nawaab, said the redevelopment is expected to cost £500,000 if the plans are approved.

He said: “This is a big personal project for me.

“It is a £500,000 project to try and renovate that building, which is right at the centre of Bradford.

“I have spent 25 years of my life working in Manor Row, so when this building came up for sale we decided we had to buy it.

“It is a big project, it is a massive job. The building has a lot of internal damage and it is an old building, but we are going to try and keep as many of the old features as possible.

“We are going to have to make some internal changes as well.”

Mr Saheed said if the application is successful, the new restaurant will be operated as a Shezzaan’s restaurant, part of the Nawaab empire. There is currently a Shezzaan’s in Halifax Road, Buttershaw.

The new application is accompanied by a Heritage Statement, prepared by YEME Architects on behalf of Nawaab Restaurants.

The document states: “The proposal is for renovation and remediation to a Grade II listed building, to bring it back into use as a restaurant.

“The restaurant will occupy the ground floor of the building. Level access into the restaurant will be via the side entrance accessed from Manor Row.”

The applicant has pledged that all original internal architectural features that are in good condition will be cleaned up and decorated as required.

But the application warns that the building is in a poor condition through water ingress, rising damp and vandalism.

Under the proposal, the existing timber six panel front door and the windows on the renaissance façade are to be retained, but will need to be stripped, repaired and re-painted.

A glass box would be added above the façade which will be illuminated to give a “more contemporary and highly visual finish.”

Meanwhile, two windows on the Grammar School Lane elevation are to be combined to create one larger opening, in a bid to “allow more natural light in and give the restaurant a greater presence from the street.”

The document goes on to state that a section lower down Grammar School Lane elevation is to have 2 windows and a door removed to improve the aesthetic of this viewpoint and increase security.

The roof at the rear of the building is to be replaced by a contemporary addition to increase the height, therefore allowing for level access throughout the kitchen areas.

In terms of the interior, the front area of the ground floor is to have a large feature seating and is to be opened up to first floor level to gain double height ceilings. There is a large steel safe in this area and original feature fire surrounds that are to be retained and will be incorporated into the design.

All wall panelling on the ground floor is to be retained, stripped and re-finished to suit interior design scheme.

The application states that the building is in a “very poor condition” and lies within an “area of decline within the city.”

The document points out that there is a risk of more damage to the building through the “ongoing rainwater ingress and penetrating and rising damp issues.”

The Heritage Statement concludes: “The proposal to renovate both interior and exterior of this building and the addition of some contemporary features will create a new focal point to this part of Bradford.”