Plans for homes on former Grattan Holdings site (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Bradford Council recommended to approve plans

8:00am Wednesday 12th September 2012 in News By Hannah Postles, T&A Reporter

The former Grattan Holdings site

An outline planning application to replace the headquarters of Freeman Grattan Holdings in Bradford with 400 homes has been submitted to Bradford Council.

Members of the authority’s regulatory and appeals committee will next week discuss the proposal by the retailer, in partnership with its neighbours Frankhill Ltd, for a housing development at the Ingleby Road and Northside Road site in Lidget Green .

Earlier this year, the Telegraph & Argus reported how bulldozers had moved on to the land where the original Grattan mail order business established its base in 1934 and where it grew to employ about 5,000 people.

The company is expected to move to a new £2.1 million base in a former wool warehouse in Little Germany, to house about 300 head office staff, later this year.

Councillor John Godward (Lab, Little Horton ) said residents in the area had mixed feelings about the proposal and the company would be missed.

“People are very sad that Grattan is gone, it’s been such a feature for all these years,” he said.

But he voiced concerns that the area would have no industrial areas and urged the Council to invest in transport infrastructure to boost employment.

“It will take a huge amount of investment,” he said. “Years ago I spoke to someone who was taking their business out of the area to save £35,000 a year on transport costs.

“It’s a massive problem and the Council needs to take steps to tackle it, otherwise the Great Horton ward will be an area with no industry left.”

A report to the commitee, which will meet on Tuesday, said the proposal will allow Grattan to relocate to new premises on Vicar Lane and, with the retention of its existing warehouse on Thornton Lane, ensure that 600 jobs are retained within the Bradford district.

“This will clearly be beneficial to the district following the recent closure of premises such as Thomas Cook and the resultant loss of jobs,” it adds.

The plans are recommended for approval, subject to the applicants paying £500,000 towards improving existing educational infrastructure and ensuring that five per cent of the site offers affordable housing.

The report adds: “This scheme provides a residential scheme on an unallocated, previously developed site.”