A NEW plan to bring "one of the city's most striking buildings" back into use has been submitted to Bradford Council.

The Grove Library on Great Horton Road was once the Bradford Regional College of Art - where David Hockney and his fellow "Bradford Mafia" honed their talents.

It has been empty since 2015, when Bradford College moved many of its classes and services into its new David Hockney Building.

A new planning application now calls for the building to be converted into a branch of Bradford based restaurant chain Lala's.

Developer says redevelopment of iconic building could be 'turning point for the future of Bradford'

It is for the change of use to a restaurant, conference facilities and sky lounge cafe, and will retain the building's 22 parking spaces.

A similar application, which also included serviced offices in the plans, was refused by Bradford Council last year. Planning officers said there was not enough parking for the different uses proposed for the building, and that the application did not include enough information on how the plans would change the Grade II listed building, which is also in the Little Horton Conservation Area.

Lalas recently opened a branch on Bradford Road, but does not have a branch within the city centre, and the plans say the development will create a "fine dining" experience that will add to Bradford's Curry Capital status.

The application was submitted by Mr Rashid from Lalas, and says the business would create 15 full time and 22 part time jobs.

C49 Architecture, the agents behind the application, said: "The building has been vacated for a while and has become a building that is in need of restoration.

"Due to its previous usage the building has not been cared for and has a number of issues which need addressing to make it usable. 

"The substantial size of the building across a number of floors means that extensive renovation is required.

"The Grade II listed building on Great Horton Road is one of the city centre's most striking buildings.

But the most significant thing about the building is that it was where David Hockney honed his artistic talents.

"Having branches in Leeds, Huddersfield and Wakefield this Bradford born business does not have a branch in its home City. The owner wants to bring his grandest and best restaurant to his home City of Bradford and invest in his City making his brand and business revolve around the Curry capital of Britain.

"It is companies like this that Bradford should be proud of and look to support in development.

"The level of development this client brings to historic buildings is replicated in his latest development of the conversion of a former pub in Pudsey getting many accolades for such a development.

"Lalas restaurant shall be a fine dining experience bringing another level of restaurant to Bradfords curry capital."

A decision on the application is expected next month.

The application comes a few months after plans to re-develop the equally grand building opposite the library were revealed.

The Old Building, another former College building, could be converted into 190 flats if plans by Citywide Investors.