THE REGENERATION of Bradford city centre is being helped by a “significant increase” in the amount of developers applying to turn empty buildings into housing, according to a new report.

An update on Bradford Council’s city plan, which was adopted in February 2015, reveals that “good progress” is being made in many areas, including improving city centre living.

The report, which will be presented to the council’s Regeneration and Economy Overview and Scrutiny Committee on Monday, says: “There is a significant increase in the number of residential change of use applications, in both historic building settings and for the conversion of office to residential.”

Since the plan was adopted, there have been several major residential developments in the city centre started or proposed - work is progressing on converting the former Arndale House opposite Broadway into over 100 flats, and numerous empty buildings in Little Germany, many of which are listed, are being converted to apartments.

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City centre living was one of the five main priorities in the plan, along with business, learning, transport and experience.

The report also points out that, one year on from its opening, The Broadway Shopping Centre has also inspired other regeneration projects, including residential. It says: “The completion of Broadway is already having a catalytic impact on not only retail and leisure investment but also on new homes and leisure uses - as the conversion of the former Arndale House for leisure and residential bears witness.”

It suggests that one of the ways the council can continue the city’s regeneration is by “finding new ways to overcome the challenges of an underperforming property market to create more offices, homes and other developments in the city centre including the reuse of old buildings.”

Plans were recently approved for the conversion of Law Russell House in Little Germany into flats, while an application for the conversion of 36 Peckover Street to apartments is expected later this month.

Smaller scale applications to turn empty space above city centre shops have also recently been approved by planners.

Dave West, from Little Germany Action Group, said it was important that any new residential developments focused on quality over quantity.

He said: “If there are too many small flats then it can be detrimental to the city centre. It can set the bar too low. Converting buildings into small sized flats only isn’t good for Bradford.

The committee will meet in City Hall at 6pm.

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