Bradford Cathedral has gone in to battle to stop the development of a block of apartments which it claims would dwarf the historic building.

It has lodged a strong objection to the development, which would have green wall panels.

The building would stand on empty land in Bolton Road in one of the city's most sensitive conservation areas.

The plan would bring barber Michael Bennett his first neighbour for 15 years and would stand close to redeveloped Forster Square.

But the Dean of Bradford, the Very Reverend Dr David Ison, said: "We have objected strongly.

"We think the site needs redevelopment. Apart from the question of sustainability of apartments it is too big and the top would be higher than the roof of the Cathedral.

"There would be three storeys of flats with balconies over Cathedral Close. It would block off views of the Cathedral.

"I would support appropriate development. But this is not the appropriate setting. It is important that Bradford does not settle for less than the best."

PPG Land Ltd, which has submitted the application for the £5.5 million apartment complex, today stood by its plans.

The development would have restaurants, offices and shops on ground level and six floors containing one and two bedroom flats and studios priced between £50,000 and £150,000.

PPG investment development director Simon Dixon, said: "We realised the sensitivity of the location and had previously got consent for an office scheme on that site."

He said his company believed the scale was in keeping with the area, which would include the redeveloped Forster Square.

Mr Dixon added the gap between the Cathedral and the apartments scheme was larger than the offices and would afford them greater privacy. He said the building would be only slightly higher than the Cathedral.

l The Cathedral plans to work with its new architect on making the building more accessible to the public from the city centre.

It has announced the appointment of Ulrike Knox, who has taken over from Richard Carr-Archer on his retirement.

Mrs Knox, an associate at York architects Purcell, Miller, Tritton, has worked for many years on church projects. She was the project architect for a major cleaning and conservation programme at St Paul's Cathedral, London.