A NEW cafe can open in the centre of Thackley after plans to convert a former estate agent shop were approved by Bradford Council.

The change of use application, submitted by Bedel Zengin, will see 490 Leeds Road become a coffee shop that will also sell sandwiches and snacks. It will have space for 14 customers. An external flue will also be built on the property, which is currently vacant.

The application said the cafe would have maximum opening hours of 8am to 10pm.

Submitted in August, the application was approved by planning officers yesterday.

That stretch of Leeds Road includes a Nisa Local, butchers, newsagents and hair studios, and planning officers said a cafe would be unlikely to create any more traffic than the existing shop use the building currently had.

They added: “Brining the property into an active use will have benefits for the general appearance and upkeep of the building.”