The details revealed in the full planning application for the tower block which developers Asquith Properties want to build at the south-eastern corner of Little Germany, on the site formerly occupied by Shipley Paints, are interesting.

The 17-story construction would be largely of sandstone, which is the obvious material for a city centre in which sandstone still predominates. It would include 180 one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments, giving a significant boost to the city-centre living which Bradford needs to help its revival plans to fruition. It promises to be, in the developer's words, "a tower feature with panoramic views across the city".

But even with so many apparent pluses on its side, the proposed development needs to be considered not solely on its merits as a stand-alone piece of architecture but as part of the broader cityscape of Little Germany - an area which, with its fine Victorian buildings, is and must remain Bradford's architectural pride and joy.

English Heritage (the conservation watchdog which is currently considering the scheme) and Bradford Council's regulatory and appeals committee (which will eventually have to decide on the £25 million application) must not lose sight of the context in which the tower block would be built.

It would be a "key landmark", certainly. It might even send out the message that this was a city "on the up". But the key question has to be: is this the right place for such a building, splendid though it might be, if it ends up dominating Little Germany rather than complementing it?