The conversion of a vacant pub into a shop would improve the appearance of one of Bradford's busiest routes, according to planning officers.

Last year an application to convert the former Shoulder of Mutton on Thornton Road into a shop with a new frontage was submitted to Bradford Council by a Mr Usman.

An expansion would also be built in the pub’s former yard - creating a new shop space opening onto Kensington Street.

The pub has been vacant for several years, and planning officers have now approved the application, saying it would improve the appearance of the area.

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They said: “Currently, the property is vacant and has an incongruous array of seemingly unauthorised advertisements covering the principal elevation.

"The property is considered to be to the detriment of visual amenity in its current state. 

"This application would bring the vacant property back into use and the external alterations proposed would only improve on the current situation.”

They said a shop would be no more detrimental to neighbouring residents than the pub would have been.