PLANS for a development of shops and apartments on a major Bradford road have been withdrawn by developers.

Late last year plans to build nine shops and nine one bed flats on 581-583 Thornton Road in Girlington were submitted to Bradford Council by Sukhjit Singh Dua.

The application described the area, near the Four Lane Ends junction, as a "gateway" to Bradford that would benefit from the development.

But the planning officers at the Council had recommended the plans be refused when they were due to be discussed by the Bradford Area Planning Panel tomorrow.

Yesterday the applicants withdrew their application.

A petition of 42 people in favour of the scheme had been submitted to the council, along with four letters of support.

But there had also been nine objection letters.

One objector said: "Traffic on Thornton Road is atrocious."

One letter of support said they "Never noticed a traffic issue."

In their report, officers said the area was a "commercial zone" and residential properties would not normally be allowed in such an area. They added: "The residential use proposed may impact on the existing uses within the employment site which can operate on a 24 hours basis. The functioning of the employment zone would be affected if people living in the flats began complaining about noise and general disturbances from existing businesses.

"The functioning of the employment zone would be affected if people living in the flats began complaining about noise and general disturbances from existing businesses."

Officers also raised concerns about the number of shops proposed as part of the scheme, pointing out numerous empty shops that already exist in the city and the Girlington area.

The report adds: "There are numerous empty retail units within the city centre and within designated district and local centres. This development is therefore likely to add further pressure on these existing retail units."