PLANS for the renovation of a prominent city centre building expected to cost half a million pounds have been given the go ahead by Bradford Council.

The plans will see a decaying Grade II-listed building in Manor Row transformed into a “new focal point” in an “area of decline” in the city centre.

The former townhouse, which dates back to 1820, has been plagued by vandalism in the past and has stood empty for a number of years, having most recently being used as a Nawaab restaurant.

Nawaab is carrying out the redevelopment, priced at £500,000, with the new restaurant to be operated as a Shezzaan’s restaurant, part of the Nawaab empire.

It will be the group’s latest restaurant in the city, along with its Shezzaan’s in Halifax Road, Buttershaw, and Nawaab restaurants in Tong and on the former site of The Ital.

Abdul Saheed, a director at Nawaab, said the company will try and keep as many original features as possible, and all internal architectural features that are in a good condition will be cleaned and decorated as required.

The six panel timber front door and windows and the building’s Renaissance façade will be retained, but need ot be stripped, repaired and re-painted.

The building is currently in a very poor state, due to water ingress, rising damp and vandalism.

In the application’s heritage statement, it said: “The proposal will create a new focal point to this part of Bradford.”

Mr Saheed 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.”

Approving the plans, Bradford Council’s planning officers said any changes to the appearance of the building are offset by the benefits of bringing it back into use.