A LISTED city centre office building that was gutted by fire eight years ago can be turned into flats after a planning application was approved.

The former offices of William Hicks Solicitors, 8-10 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.

And earlier this year the Sekhon Group applied for permission to convert the building into 34 apartments, a mix of one bed, two bed and studio flats.

The plans say the development will include a courtyard in the centre, a concierge, and a gym, dance floor and sauna in the basement.

The application has now been approved by Bradford Council.

In 2010 the building suffered a huge blaze that was tackled by 100 firefighters. It left the inside badly damaged, and it is currently boarded up.

The planning application said: "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.”