PLANS to turn the upper floors of a building in Listerhills into eight bedsits look set to be refused next week on parking grounds.

The bid, by Mohsin Hussain for the first floor and loft space of 138 Listerhills Road, is being recommended for refusal by Bradford Council planners, amid concerns that there would not be enough off-street parking provided.

The building, which houses a retail unit on the ground floor, is at the junction of Listerhills Road and Preston Street, and is in an area described by planners as already having a high demand for on-street parking.

Despite this, initial plans included no parking provision on the site at all. Amendments offered three spaces in a line behind the building, but planning policy requires one off-street parking space for every two rooms - so a requirement for four spaces.

However, planners believe the end parking spot of the three offered would be "largely inaccessible", "effectively reducing the spaces to two".

A report to the Council's Bradford area planning panel next week outlines how there has been a mixed reaction locally to the plans to convert part of the building into a House of Multiple Occupation, with petitions being submitted both against and in support of the plans.

Of the parking issue, it states: "Two spaces would not meet policy requirements and it would be likely to lead to overspill on-street parking, which would be unacceptable. This is because the site is located at the junction of Listerhills Road and Preston Street."

"The majority of existing properties have limited off-street parking, resulting in a high demand for on-street parking. Vehicles park half on the footway to allow the free flow of traffic, which in turn obstructs the passage of pedestrians," it adds.

The report also adds that the applicant claims potential tenants - namely students and young working professionals - will not be car owners.

The petition against the scheme has been signed by residents of Preston Street, outlining their objections to the proposals.

It states: "There is currently limited parking available for current residents and organisations on Preston Street and granting permission for an 8-bedroom HMO licence to the property would result in an increase in demand for the already congested parking space on the road and consequently increase problems for existing residents and stakeholders."

The scheme itself would involve keeping the shop on the ground floor, and creating 8 bedsits on the first floor, each with their own shower rooms. The loft space would be converted into a communal lounge and kitchen, with the additional of rooflights.

The planners recommendations state that without the required level of off-street parking, it could: "lead to increased, indiscriminate on-street parking in an area on a busy distributor road where the demand for on-street parking is already high.

The meeting takes place on Thursday, October 17 in City Hall, Bradford, from 10am.