Police officers in Bradford are in line to move into a top-security modern new headquarters.

Council planners have recommended that planning approval is given to the multi-million-pound building close to the city centre.

The blast-proof station, design-ed to combat attacks from terrorists or rioters, will be the new HQ for the Bradford South division and will replace the outdated Tyrls in the city centre.

It is hoped officers will move into the new building by March 2005. The Tyrls will then be closed and sold.

Today West Yorkshire Police Authority member Councillor John Ruding welcomed the planners' backing for the scheme and said the new headquarters would benefit the public.

"We are very pleased that we will finally be able to get approval and get the real work on the building going," he said.

"The police authority and the building section within the police have been working very hard with planners to get to the stage of bringing a report to the committee for approval.

"Bradford South was the only division without a proper headquarters and that has had an impact on policing. We have now got the site we believe will serve the community. It is an exciting and prestigious building for the city centre as well."

The station, which it is estimated will cost between £5 million and £10 million, will be built on an old industrial site close to the fire station in Nelson Street, just outside the city centre.

It will house 683 people, including 368 police officers.

Bradford Council's Regulatory and Appeals Committee will discuss the proposals next week but planners are recommending approval subject to conditions.

They include providing a pedestrian crossing at the Croft Street dual carriageway for people visiting the station and banning some on-street parking in Nelson Street for security reasons.

The Council also wants reassurances that the development would not affect a proposed cycle route on the street. And planners have asked for a check on old industrial contamination on the site.

But a report by the Transport-ation, Design and Planning Dir-ector, Alan Mainwaring, concludes there is much that is positive and acceptable about the proposed station.

The five-storey building will have CCTV and security lighting and will be blast-proof to counter any threats from rioters or terrorists. It will include a custody suite for prisoners, a public help desk and car parking for staff and operational-policy needs.