A DEVELOPMENT of shops, a cafe, and flats on Leeds Road that will "make a statement" has been approved.

Overland Developments plans to re-develop the site of 1222 Leeds Road, currently a car wash and the former site of the White Bear Inn, into a three storey building containing four shops, a cafe and nine apartments.

The company's application said the development would create five full time and 18 part time jobs.

The application has now been approved by planning officers, who said: "In terms of scale whilst the building will form one of the tallest structures in the locality it still suitably responds to the existing built form, and the prominence of the site calls for a development that will make a statement, and add visual interest to the street scene.

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"In terms of highway safety the proposed development is considered acceptable, and the council's highway officer has raised no objections. The site is situated within a local centre and adjacent to Leeds Road an arterial route serving Bradford city centre. Linkages to public transport and dense residential developments are therefore excellent."

The flats would all be one bedroom, and the development would include parking for 13 cars and eight bicycles to the rear of the building.

Bradford Council recently submitted an enforcement notice against the car wash on the site, calling for the removal of unauthorised storage buildings and an end to the unauthorised use as a car wash.