PLANS to open a martial arts centre in a Bradford mill have been approved.

Last year David Fairley submitted a planning application to Bradford Council to change the use of the ground floor of Thornton Mill, Bedes Close, Thornton to a martial arts centre. The plans said the centre would likely create between five and eight full and part time jobs.

The application has now been approved by planning officers.

The ground floor unit is currently vacant - having previously been used by a carpet company.

Plan for old Bradford mills on Thornton Road is refused

Planning officers said: "significant weight should be placed on the need to support economic growth and productivity.

"The proposal will not cause any harm to residential amenity or highway safety."

One condition of the approval is that the new business would only be open from 10am to 9pm on Mondays to Friday and hours of 10am to 4pm on Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays.