THE upper floors of a historic, Grade II-listed former Bradford pub could be turned into a ‘house in multiple occupation’ (HMO) if the proposals are approved.

The plans for the Victorian Cock & Bottle pub building, on Barkerend Road, have been lodged with Bradford Council.

An inn is thought to have first been recorded on the site in 1747, but the present-day building was built in 1820.

RELATED: Old pictures of Bradford’s historic Cock & Bottle pub

“It still has lots of snugs and a tap-room with old mirrors, glass, oak fittings and tiles,” reported the Telegraph & Argus back in 2011.

The landmark building, which is one of Bradford’s most historic pub premises, has a turbulent planning history.

Back in 2013, the Telegraph & Argus reported on the anger which met a planning application to renovate the vacant pub and open it as a restaurant.

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At the time, objectors said it would be an “act of civic vandalism” and that the pub’s historic interior should be protected.

Members of the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) twice overturned planning permission for the project in the High Court, claiming that original Victorian features had been removed from the building.

But in June 2015, the pub finally reopened as the Cantina 93 English and Mediterranean restaurant following an £80,000 refurbishment.

It came as a blow for the Bradford CAMRA group, who described the news as “very sad and disappointing”.

However, the restaurant closed just weeks later, with business owner Aftab Ali saying Bradford’s City Centre Growth Zone was unfair to entrepreneurs looking to set up outside of the scheme’s boundary.

“We have become annoyed with the regeneration strategy of the council which has seen them investing in start-up business and creating new competition for us. It’s a tough market anyway.

“They are creating competitors for me.”

The Council said it could not change the boundary as it was set up in agreement with the Government.

Following the closure of the restaurant, CAMRA said it would like to see the building open as a pub again if viable, however a new business, Cafe Patisserie, opened in its place and is still in operation to this day on the ground floor.

In an application for the upper floors, a planning statement submitted by Khawaja Planning Services says: “It was proposed by our client to convert the first and second floor dwelling into an HMO (house of multiple occupancy).

“The ground floor café will remain unaffected by this development apart from a new fire-retardant partition that will be created behind the existing internal stain glass door opening.”

It adds: “It is very important to match new buildings with existing buildings in the area.

“Every effort has been made in the design of this building to match and complement the existing buildings in the street and surrounding area.”

The Government defines a house in multiple occupation (HMO) as a property rented out by at least three people who are not from one ‘household’ (for example a family) but share facilities like the bathroom and kitchen. The application says there would be seven one-bedroom units.

A determination deadline has been set for June 26.