A GROUP which helps people with disabilities across the district will be re-locating to a derelict nursing home in Bradford as part of a £1 million plan to create a 'flagship' centre for the disabled.

Equality Together formed last year when groups including Bradford Disability Services, CONTACT Peer Support and Bradford Alliance on Community Care merged.

Now it is looking to move into the former Nightingale Centre in St Mary's Road in Manningham, where it will create a mock two- storey house within the building to help disabled people learn how they can adapt their homes.

The intention is to make the building, next to the former Bradford Children's Hospital, an interactive hub for the disabled and make it a one stop shop where disabled people can get advice and learn how to use state-of-the-art innovative technologies.

Equality Together has been granted planning permission to convert the building, and it hopes that the centre will be ready to open by autumn 2017.

The building will include offices, meeting rooms, a cafe, the two-storey house mock up and a sensory garden.

With the merging of the different groups, Equality Together was left spread over two sites, units at the Carlisle Business Centre and a building at Dockfield Road, Shipley, neither of which being the ideal location for people with disabilities to visit.

With the new site being central, and easy to access by public transport, group vice-chairman Peter Kaye said it will help it to reach many more people.

"Being one organisation over two sites is not ideal for our customers or staff. This will make it easier for us to operate across the region," he said.

Mark Nicholson, general manager, said: "It will be good to be in the heart of the community, close to the hospitals and the local infrastructure.

"A lot of our client base is from central and West Bradford so it is a good place for us."

The group will take over the building, still privately owned, on a 99-year lease.

Mr Nicholson added: "We want to take this building to a completely new level. It will be state-of-the-art. We want to make the experience of coming to the building really worthwhile."

Mr Kaye said: "A lot of disabled people live in terraced houses. The new centre will have a mock up of an upstairs/downstairs set up that replicates the terraced dwellings.

"It will help people see what is possible for their own homes. We want to deliver a world class service in a world class building."

The pair said plans for the new centre were designed by people who use the services.

Now the planning application has been approved, the group is seeking funding for the project. It is also looking for volunteers, and anyone who wants to help should call 01274 594173.