PLANS for a new beauty studio, retail units and a cafe are tipped for approval despite objections from those who live close to the site.

The vision for Express House, on the gateway to White Abbey Road, will be discussed at a meeting of the Bradford Area Planning Panel next week.

The scheme was previously submitted and withdrawn due to concerns over a lack of parking spaces.

But a revised application said: “These recommended car parking spaces have now been met and have been incorporated as part of the scheme.”

A number of objections have been left in response to the plans, including fears over a lack of adequate parking and the impact this could have on highway and pedestrian safety, concerns the development may lead to “indiscriminate” parking, loss of privacy, disturbance and mess from ongoing building works, as well as the “importance of fire exits” and concerns over disabled access and disabled parking bays.

A report to the panel notes that concerns have been raised by residents of Hardaker Street, but says: “Hardaker Street does not offer private parking facilities for the residents of these dwellings and there is parking provision off Spink Street which can directly serve these dwellings. Taking on board the existing informal parking arrangements evident, the Highways Officer considers that the overall impact would not be so significant.”

It adds: “...the proposal will not lead to such significant highway and pedestrian safety issues as to warrant a refusal.”

Bradford West MP Naz Shah threw her weight behind the plans. Supporting the application, she said: “White Abbey Road currently houses some extremely extravagant Asian clothing shops which attract people from across the UK, however the current stretch of shops only go so far down White Abbey Road, leaving the top end which leads onto Westgate neglected. The said regeneration project would not only integrate the neglected part but also draw more footfall to the area.”

The planning report says the existing building is vacant and appears “rather neglected”. It outlines that proposed alterations, including the construction of a balcony to the existing flat roof extension, are “beneficial to the overall appearance of the building and wider street scene”.

In recommending the plans for approval, the report says: “The proposal will bring an existing vacant building back into use and visually improve its appearance and subsequently the character of the area.

“Its sustainable location and level of parking spaces provided will ensure that it does not lead to significant highway and pedestrian safety issues.”