THE old Marks & Spencer building in Bradford city centre could be turned into a smaller shop and up to 47 flats, under new plans.

The building, left vacant when the high-street giant moved into The Broadway last year, is currently occupied by arts charity East Street Arts under a temporary lease.

Now the building’s owner, a partnership named Darley Street Properties, has revealed its longer-term plans for the building.

The planning application would see the basement and ground floor of the main four-storey shop building kept for retail use, while the first and second floors could either remain as retail space, if a tenant was found, or become 21 apartments.

There is also a linked building behind the Darley Street premises, Vintry House, in Piccadilly, which had been used for warehousing. The two buildings are joined by a second-floor walkway.

Under the plans, Vintry House would be turned into 26 apartments and the walkway would be removed.

If all the flats were constructed, there would be one studio apartment, 45 one-bedroom apartments and one two-bedroom apartment.

A statement submitted along with the application, by Vida Architecture, says: “Vida have been appointed as part of the design team by the owner, Darley Street Properties LLP, to develop a scheme for the re-use of their properties known as Darley Street and Vintry House, Bradford.

“Both properties were formerly occupied by retailer Marks & Spencer prior to their relocation to the Broadway shopping centre.

“Darley Street is currently in retail use and Vintry House was used as ancillary retail space for stock storage.

“Working closely with [estate agency] Savills, various strategies have been developed to maximise the re-use potential of the properties.

“Careful consideration has been given to the economic viability of re-use and working with the existing building fabric.”

The application also calls for five years to implement the plans, rather than the usual three.

London-based Darley Street Properties is a partnership between London-based real estate company Ironmere, and Virgin Islands-based Marylebone Securities and Ronda Holdings, based in the British Virgin Islands.

The application is due to be considered by Bradford Council’s planning department by February 10.

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