PLANS to re-develop High Point, one of Bradford's most divisive buildings, are set to get a multi million pound boost.

Constructed in the 1970s as the headquarters for Yorkshire Building Society, the long empty concrete skyscraper is seen as many as one of the city's biggest eyesores.

It has also been described as "a symbol of market failure."

And now it has been revealed that West Yorkshire Combined Authority will provide a £2.9 million grant to help bring the building back to life.

Earlier this year plans to convert the office tower into up to 87 apartments were revealed by Circus Developments (Bradford).

Next week West Yorkshire Combined Authority is expected to approve support for the £9.432 million scheme, with funding coming Bradford Heritage Properties project.

In 2018 the authority announced it would had set aside £7.4 million to support the re-development of three long empty city centre heritage buildings.

Last year it was revealed that Conditioning House, a derelict mill off Shipley Airedale Road, was one of the buildings, and would receive a £3 million grant.

A report to the Authority's Investment Committee, meeting next Thursday, reveals that High Point is the second building.

The identity of the third building is yet to be revealed.

High Point has long been mooted for residential use. In Bradford Council's City Centre Area Action Plan - published in 2017, the building is earmarked for around 80 residential units.

Earlier this year a permitted development application to convert the building into flats was approved by Bradford Council.

New future for city’s most divisive building as apartments plan revealed for High Point

The plans include a new glass lobby for the building, and a report to the Combined Authority says the plans will also create 422 square metres of commercial space on the ground floor.

That area of the city centre is due to undergo some major changes in the coming years, with plans to move the city market to Darley Street, flatten the Oastler Centre - opposite High Point, and build an "urban village" of 1,000 homes.

Bradford Council will be partnering with Circus Development for the re-development.

A report to the investment committee says: "The refurbishment of this historic iconic building will act as a catalyst for regeneration within the wider area.

"The scheme will enable 87 new homes (apartments) and will also create 422 square meters of commercial business space in a key priority urban centre, which will potentially create 24 new jobs.

"The building will be fitted with solar panels to reduce electricity supply from the national grid and provide a sustainable energy resource.

"This scheme will potentially generate £3.7 million in social value.

"The building is currently in a very poor internal condition with signs of wear to the exterior concrete panels. The derelict state is a symbol of market failure and has a detrimental effect on the surrounding area. Rehabilitation of the building will act as a catalyst for the investment planned for the City Village area.

"The delivery mechanism will involve Bradford Council entering into a development and funding agreement with the owner developer of the building, to fund a range of enabling costs associated with the conversion of a heritage asset which are a constraint to the viable redevelopment of High Point.

"The developer of the building will be responsible for undertaking the works and the subsequent private sector rental management of new homes and commercial floorspace."

The report says work is due to start next month and be completed by January 2022.