Work has begun on the main renovations at a shopping arcade in Cleckheaton which is being renamed Victoria Court

Bradford firm Abrahams & Carlisle shop fitters have begun replacing all the shop fronts within the Central Arcade.

It was bought last year by Willow Properties (Yorkshire) Ltd and the commercial property firm has committed £2.5m to the upgrade project.

The arcade, which was in a state of disrepair, has already had a replacement 20,000 sq ft roof, as it was leaking badly.

this work formed phase one of the redevelopment and was carried out as soon as the purchase was completed.

Earlier this year planning permission was approved to make it a brighter, more modern shopping centre.

The site includes 10 retail shops with two floors of offices above, with tenants including Halifax Bank, Dominos Pizza, From the Heart gift shop, SMKD, Clecktronic, Sweeties, We Buy Gold, Cleckheaton Photo, Beauty Box and Titan Business Centre.

Ernest Wilsons, the landlord’s agent overseeing the redevelopment, said: "Earlier this year planning permission was passed to stone clad both the elevations to Cheapside and Market Street together with new signage, windows and the replacement of all the shop fronts within the arcade.

"The three kiosk units will be removed and completely re-built and new flooring, ceilings, lighting, marble detailing and security will be installed.

"The project will give a massive lift to the town and the arcade, which is to be renamed Victoria Court. A fabulous new coffee shop is being introduced early in 2020 together with other new quality retailers to complement the existing tenants.

"Bradford firm Abrahams & Carlisle Shop Fitters who recently did the work at Dakota Deluxe Hotel in Leeds and Grand Cru Restaurant & Bar in Birkenshaw are undertaking the works and we expect completion by late December."

In a design and access statement submitted to the Council as part of the planning application the arcade, is described as brick with aluminium framed windows and a flat roof.

It is thought that the building dates back to the 1970s.

It states: “The client intends to invest substantially with a full refurbishment and internal alterations of the property.

“The proposal is to clad the external elevations to both Market Street and Cheapside with stone slips and incorporate vertical timber-effect cladding with new signage.

“Existing shopfronts externally are to be replaced with new grey aluminium shopfronts and roller shutters.

“Internal shopfronts are to be replaced with new timber shopfronts."