A PIGEON-infested city centre building that was gutted by fire almost eight years ago could soon be refurbished and converted into flats.

The former offices of William Hicks Solicitors on Piccadilly was recently flagged up by Bradford Civic Society as one of the top 10 buildings in the district that urgently needed to be regenerated.

They have cautiously welcomed plans by Bradford based property developers the Sekhon Group to convert the building, but have raised concerns at the the number of small flats planned for the city centre.

The building, 8-10 Piccadilly, was the former home of William Hicks Solicitors and was also known as Empire House.

In June 2010 the building suffered a huge blaze that was tackled by 100 firefighters from across the district.

It left the inside badly damaged, and it is currently boarded up. A tree is growing out of one part of the building.

The new planning application will see the four storey building converted into 34 apartments - a mix of one bed, two bed and studio flats, with a courtyard and garden in the centre. The flats will have a concierge, and a gym, dance floor and sauna in the basement area.

The planning application says: “In June 2010, a huge fire caused extensive damages to the internal fabric of the buildings, therefore since then little success in letting these properties. Some of the interior spaces remained damp with floor boards unsafe due to timber works being rotting away as a result of the fire damage and due to no maintenance.

“Occupiers want nice good quality modern offices with all the state of the arts internet facilities and that’s why it is becoming more and more challenging to let these offices.

“Hopefully by providing a continued occupation for the building will provide a physical contribution back to the local area and creates a social vibrancy.”

Describing the building and the need for it to be regenerated, the Civic Society said earlier this year: “There are plenty of buildings along Piccadilly which need care and attention, but this building, which was the headquarters of the History and Scientific Institute really does need to be reclaimed and given an appropriate use.”

On the new application, Si Cunningham, chair of the Society, said: “Piccadilly is a fine street, and could become even more prominent once the plans for a new food market on Darley Street come to fruition, so it’s good to see a bit of life there.

“We must sound a slight note of caution though, as we’re seeing a lot of these microscopic apartments being pushed through, and we have to question whether the demand is there. It’s great to see another old building brought into use, but this city is better placed than any other to give people more spacious housing. The civic society would love to see a bit more of that.”

If approved, the application will be the latest in a series of plans for buildings on Piccadilly to be converted into flats.

Last year plans to convert neighbouring 12 Piccadilly into 13 flats and a ground floor office were approved. Approval was granted for 6 Piccadilly to become eight flats.

And plans to turn the upper floors of 1 Piccadilly, above an Age UK shop, into 14 flats was approved in 2016.

A decision on the application for 8-10 Piccadilly is expected in April.