NEW plans to bring a prominent empty building on one of Bradford’s main roads back into use have been submitted to Bradford Council.

The former HSBC banking hall on Tong Street has been empty for a number of years, but in 2017 plans to refurbish the building and turn it into a retail and residential development were approved by Bradford Council.

The approved plans would have seen the ground floor split into four shops, while the first floor would become apartments.

However, the developers say “uncertainty over Brexit” and other factors have led to the project stalling, with little interest in the planned shops.

A new application submitted to Bradford Council says the planned shop units are “to big and difficult to let.”

Submitted by Iqbal Singh, the application calls for the ground floor of the building to instead be divided into seven smaller shops.

He believes the smaller units will be easier to let, and allow the transformation of the building to move forward.

The application will retain the bank’s 11 space car park.

Located at a prominent spot on Tong Street, the monolithic building is a landmark on one of the main routes into Bradford city centre.

The planning application calls for alterations to Tong Street frontage of the building, and new shop fronts. It says the shops could create 14 full time and seven part time jobs.

The application says; “Since the approval of the different uses, nothing had been done due to the volatile nature of the building industries and the uncertainty of Brexit.

“The letting agents have difficulty in letting the four A1 (retail) use as they appeared to be too big for the area.

“As a result, our clients seek to split the ground floor further into seven A1 (shop) use smaller units.

“Hopefully in this manner, the building can be easily let to assist in kick starting the refurbishment works.

“The change of use will provide regeneration, providing a fresh use class refurbishments to otherwise the vacant space will deteriorate and will fall further into disrepair and loss of potential employment.”

The changes will include the developers closing up the vault door on the former bank building, turning that part of the building into an office for the largest shop unit.

The application says the conversion of the first floor, former office space for the bank, into several apartments, will take place at a later stage.

A decision on the application is expected in March.