PLANS to regenerate a Manningham building to create a new make up studio and cafe have been approved by Bradford Council.

Express House on White Abbey Road, a former dairy and more recently book store, will be refurbished and re-opened as a beauty studio, cafe and small shop after plans were given the go ahead by members of the Council's Bradford Area Planning Panel yesterday.

The proposals, by Imran Ali, had previously been refused over parking concerns, and this latest application had also received a number of objections from residents, who said the businesses would put pressure on neighbouring roads.

Mr Ali addressed the Committee saying he was born and bred in Bradford, and that the area had always been popular with Asian businesses.

He said: "I travel all around the world and wanted to come back to Bradford to provide a new service in the area.

"This building has always been a commercial property and there have never been problems with parking before.

"I saw an opportunity at the top of town and am taking the opportunity to help regenerate the area."

He said that his previous clients had included celebrities.

The committee also heard that the building had been broken into numerous times, and was regularly being used by squatters.

Chair of the panel Councillor Shabir Hussain said: "People see empty shops and complain about them, so when someone is willing to put a huge amount of money into a project like this we should be supporting it."

The committee then approved the plan.

The new business is expected to create four full time and two part time jobs.