A developer wants to build one of Bradford's tallest blocks of private apartments on the site of a former pay and display car park.

Russell Baker, who says he wants to be the city's biggest developer, has applied to Bradford Council for planning permission for the 14-storey natural stone building at the car park in Grammar School Street.

He has already transformed nearby Grade Two-listed Broadgate House in Manor Row into 85 apartments ranging in price from £60,000 to £200,000.

With just one remaining on the market, he is building a six-storey state-of-the-art apartment complex called Stonegate House nearby.

The development is almost sold out and the first residents are expected to move in at Christmas.

Now he says would-be city dwellers are already getting in touch with him about the £30 million development proposed for the car park.

But Mr Baker, managing director of Asquith Properties, is making sure his city-apartments supply does not run dry because the company has bought the former Shipley Paints site at the Leeds Road entrance to the city centre to build another apartments complex.

Architects are working for the company on a planning application for the Leeds Roads site which will be submitted to Bradford Council in the near future.

Mr Baker said: "I want to be Bradford's biggest developer and have great confidence in the city.

"I am now in the process of acquiring a site for a further 150 apartments.

"I think Bradford is on the way up and that people want to live here.

"We are asking for planning permission for a development with 205 apartments and 18 town houses at Grammar School Street."

He said there were proposals for a central tower, balconies and 130 underground car parking spaces.

"It is stunning and imposing and we have taken a few deposits already," he said.

Mr Baker said there was a sense of optimism in the city as demolition began in preparation for the £200 million Broad-way shopping scheme.