Plans to transform a disused Bradford textile mill into an apartment and retail development have taken a further step closer to reality.

Demolition work has been completed at Midland Mills, former home to the British Mohair Holdings company, and plans have been submitted for the next stage of a £25 million redevelopment project.

The Telegraph & Argus can exclusively reveal the first impressions of how the new development would appear if approved by planners.

As previously reported in the T&A, the Midland Mills project would include more than 300 apartments, 7,000 sq ft of retail and 90 car parking spaces.

The plans, drawn up by Shipley architects Beckwith Design Associates, have now been submitted to Bradford Council for approval.

The conversion of the original buildings and the construction of two new build, multi-storey residential blocks, would form part of the ambitious £470m Bradford Canal project.

The blueprints also show how the likely route of the Shipley to Bradford canal scheme will run through the site, along with inclusion of walk ways and cycle paths.

The mooted Bradford Canal project aims to build 5,000 new homes along the Canal basin between the city centre and Shipley.

The Midland Mills developer, Valley Partnership, is very keen to retain the heritage of the site, between Valley Road and Canal Road, and has already invested significant sums of cash to ensure that the foundations of the original building were retained during the demolition stage.

John Mulleady, of JM Construction which is involved in the project, said: "Midland Mills is a significant part of Bradford's history and we want to ensure that some of the original features are retained, while creating an appropriate development for the 21st century.

"We are also keen to help with delivering the proposed canal scheme. Our plans include details of it running through the site."

Midland Mills is a two acre site which consists of three, Grade Two listed buildings which date back to the 19th century.

As well as being home to British Mohair Holdings it was the former home of hand knitting wool manufactures Jarol. The site has been vacant since 2001.

The Canal Project if it goes ahead would be a joint venture between Bradford Council, Bradford Centre Regeneration (BCR) and British Waterways linking Shipley to Bradford in a move to connect the Manningham and Airedale Masterplans to the city centre.

Estimates suggest reopening the canal would create 5,900 new jobs and up to 5,000 new homes.

It would also provide facilities for Shipley College and improved recreational facilities. Once completed, it is estimated the canal project could have a value of about £1 billion.

e-mail: mark.casci @bradford.newsquest.co.uk