PROPOSALS to convert a city centre office building into residential use - where some of the flats would be as small as 18 square metres, has been branded “a disgrace.”

Plans to turn Olicana House, a former Council office building in Little Germany, into flats date back over six years.

But after the building’s previous owner went into liquidation, the conversion work was not completed.

Last month new owners TIRTLR8 Ltd submitted plans to complete the conversion of the building.

They applied to Bradford Council for Prior Approval to create an extra 22 flats in the building, which the application says will bring the total number of flats to 160.

The company says the flats are “aimed at people who want a city centre lifestyle” and that they are completing work on a stalled development.

But Bradford Civic Society has raised concerns over the size of the flats.

New rule that permitted development flats need to measure at least 37 square metres is welcomed - but 'does not go far enough'

Of the proposed new studio flats, some are just 18 square metres. And the only source of natural light for some of the apartments is through a small roof light.

Si Cunningham, Chair of the Civic Society, has regularly criticised the number of small flats proposed by developers in city centre schemes. Many of these have been approved through Permitted Development, meaning developers do not need to apply for planning permission to convert former office buildings to flats.

On the latest plans he said: “I didn’t think office conversions granted under Permitted Development rights could sink any lower, but I’m sorry to say that what is planned for Olicana House looks to be particularly nasty.

“The Government recently announced that there will be a minimum space standard of 37 square metres for all Permitted Development flats as of April 2021, so it’s very concerning to see studios almost 20 square metres smaller than this being squeezed into Bradford.

“People are expected to sleep, cook, wash, and do everything else within this tiny space, which strikes me as utterly unacceptable in 2020 – even more so considering the impact that recent lockdowns have had on mental wellbeing.

“The developers will cynically try to claim that this is simply what city living looks like. It isn’t. It’s a disgrace, and there should be no place for this kind of thing in modern Bradford.”

A spokesperson for the applicant and new owner of the building commented: “The applicant and Client took control of this building following the liquidation of the previous owner, leaving an unsafe and unfinished building.

“Since 2014 the building has had permission to be converted from a vacant office building into apartments under Permitted Development rights.

“The recent application seeks to extend a previously granted Prior Approval for further homes within the building.

“The new owner of the building has now started works to the refurbish the existing 104 apartments and to complete the 2014 scheme. Works also include bringing all the common areas up to Building Regulation and fire safety standards and upgrading the sustainability of the building.

“New homes in this building are aimed at people who want a City Centre lifestyle and a housing provider is in place.

“Average size of the apartments is in line with similar permitted development schemes and the Council has granted prior approval for the development and deemed the sizes acceptable and reasonable within the Permitted Development Framework.”