A historic city centre building opened by a future king who later abdicated has found a new lease of life.

City House, in Cheapside, is about to be refurbished as part of a project to turn it into the new home of Bradford West City Community Housing Trust, part of the Bradford Community Housing Trust (BCHT) Group.

The former home of the Chamber of Commerce has been empty for several years but is at the heart of the Broadway regeneration area.

City House, formerly known as Commerce House, was opened in 1929 by the then Prince of Wales, who became King Edward VIII before abdicating to marry a divorced woman.

The building was built for Bradford Chamber of Commerce at a cost of £86,000, and was in use until the early 1990s when Government pressure led to the amalgamation of Leeds and Bradford chambers of commerce.

In its heyday it was one of the most prestigious buildings in Bradford, with key wool trade bodies holding office space, and a caretaker's flat on the top floor.

Bradford West City CHT bought the building for an undisclosed sum in May and plans to keep much of the architecture, including the large council chamber.

BCHT took over Bradford's 24,000 council houses last year and plans to spend £175 million on improvements.

Ian Simpson, executive director of Bradford West City Community Housing Trust, said the first wave of staff could move in by the end of the year.

"City House is a first-class building that wouldn't look out of place in Paris, and it will provide excellent offices whilst also becoming a valuable asset to the Trust," he said.

"We have plans to open a cybercafe for tenants to use, and once the building is fully renovated we will be renting off some of the floorspace."

The current offices of Bradford West City CHT at Central House in Forster Square will soon close so the block can be demolished.

Temporary public offices are now open at the following locations, with public phone numbers staying the same:

l Otley Road, Leeds Road and Manchester Road areas, 44 Otley Road

l Manningham, Canterbury and Parkside areas, Kenilworth House, Saffron Drive, Allerton

l Allerton, Thornton, Haworth Road, Clayton and Scholemoor areas, 401 Allerton Road, Allerton.