A FORMER post office can be converted to housing after Councillors approved the building’s refurbishment.

The facility at 844 Cleckheaton Road closed several years ago, and earlier this year Lee Bromby submitted a planning application to turn the building into a five bedroom “house of multiple occupation.”

A storage building to the rear of the site would be turned into a house.

The rear of the building is already classed as residential.

Councillors highlight importance of protected trees during Clayton flats debate

Members of Bradford Council’s Bradford Area Planning Panel approved the application at a meeting on Wednesday.

There had been a number of objections to the plans, raising concerns over the lack of parking and dismay over the loss of the Post Office.

But planning officers had recommended the plans be approved, pointing out that the Post Office shut some time ago, and that the planning system had no way to force the Post Office to re-open the business.

At Tuesday's meeting planning officer Ross Hallam told members the former Post Office was a “dilapidated” former retail unit, and pointed out that if it were to re-open as a shop it would likely generate more traffic than the residential proposal.

Non of the objectors attended the meeting.