Property experts have paid £2.5 million for a former tramshed premises at Thornbury, Bradford, where they plan to develop a new retail park with units at affordable rents.

The move by developers Roadside Retail will see the historic facade of the former tram terminus in Leeds Road retained while the rest of the building will be demolished to make way for new units.

The scheme for ten retail units of around 1,200 sq ft – yet to be submitted for planning permission – is part of what the company says is a fresh approach to retail development.

Roadside Retail, headed by Aqeel Khan, has acquired five sites in the UK where it plans to create more than 250,000 sq ft of retail space. In addition to the 230,000 sq ft former tramshed site, the company has also acquired a 6,000 sq ft site in Thornton Road, a roadside site in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, and sites in Liverpool and Worksop.

The company says it has identified a niche in the commercial property market for supplying retailers with space at minimum rents, while focusing on providing well designed sites.