NEW restaurants, a coffee shop, a gym and almost 100 flats will all be part of the redevelopment of a building which stands beside the Broadway shopping centre in Bradford.

The Xchange, formerly Arndale House, will shortly undergo a major upgrade after a planning application to turn the empty office building into 98 one and two bedroom apartments was approved by Bradford Council.

Its first floor will become a public gym, with the ground floor retails units, many of which are currently empty, will see an influx of new businesses.

Once completed, the building will be valued at about £18 million.

Based on the corner of Broadway and Charles Street, Arndale House has only three businesses occupying its ground floor, Greggs bakers, woman's fashion store Bon Marche and weekly payment retailer Bright House.

With the Xchange rebranding these three businesses will move to bigger units in the building. Mark Brearley, letting agent for the development, told the Telegraph & Argus that two restaurants have agreed terms to move into other units in the development, as has a coffee shop.

Details of the new businesses are likely to be announced later this month when the contracts have been finalised.

There are still some other units available, and Mr Brearley said there has been plenty of interest in the Xchange.

The 1960s built building is owned by a company called Auger Investments, and the 98 flats will be developed by a property developer.

They will be a mixture of one and two bedroom properties, and the development will retain one of Arndale House's more unique features, a rooftop garden above some of the shop units.

Mr Brearley said: "These are large flat units, we're not aiming for the student market.

"They will be quality flats for young professionals. It is a great spot right by the Westfield site and between two major train stations.

"We're starting to see a lot more city centre living in Bradford now.

"We're planning to start work on the shops by the end of the month, so we hope that we'll be ready to hand over some of the units by the time Westfield is ready to open."

Promotional material for the development refers to the flats as "urban chic".

A contract to develop the flats is likely to be signed in the next few weeks.

As well as being opposite the Broadway development which is being built by Westfield, the Xchange could also be facing a new cinema.

Meyer Bergman, owner of the development, has submitted plans to turn the row of buildings on the opposite side of Broadway to the Xchange into a boutique cinema, restaurants, shops and cafes. That development will span the entire block of shops, excluding Yorkshire bank and Kroustie sandwich shop, which will both remain.

The HMV, the only shop in the block still trading, will be re-located.

A decision on that development is expected in September.