Contractors are expected to move into Bradford's historic Conditioning House in Canal Road soon to transform it into a major designer shopping complex.

The multi-million pound scheme, which would also include restaurants and leisure facilities, could bring about 500 jobs to the city.

Work is expected to run in tandem with the construction of the planned £200 million Broadway shopping scheme less than a mile away in the heart of the city.

Knottingley-based Caddick Developments, which owns the building, is also leading partner of the Forster Square Development Partnership, which is carrying out the Broadway scheme.

Work on the Broadway shopping complex is expected to start in April and take about three years to build while the Conditioning House is scheduled to open in April, 2004.

The Grade Two listed mill-style building comprises two inter-linked, four-storey wings built either side of a glass roofed courtyard.

The new scheme would centre round a glass atrium with floors containing dozens of shops There will be 2,000 free parking spaces nearby and developers say the complex would complement the city centre's vast regeneration .

Peter Holley, of Caddick Developments, said: "Condit-ioning House will provide an exciting, vibrant and compelling designer retail destination and will add to the positive improvements currently taking place throughout Bradford."

He said lettings were being sought and there had already been wide interest.

The development of the 100-year-old building next to Forster Square Retail Park follows the collapse of a number of grandiose schemes. But the plans to convert it into shops have been criticised by Bradford Chamber of Trade, which says it as an extension of the Forster Square shopping scheme and does not believe it would benefit the city centre.