PLANS to turn a shop in Keighley town centre into a cafe have been refused after planning officers pointed out there would be very little space for customers to sit.

Proposals to convert off licence at 141 East Parade into a "cafe/takeaway" were submitted to Bradford Council by Sageer in June.

Under planning rules, permission is not needed to turn a shop into a cafe. However, it is needed to turn a shop into a take away. The application was to see if permission was needed.

But Bradford Council has now refused the "prior approval", arguing the limited space in the new business hinted that it would be operating solely as a take away.

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The ground floor of the shop would be divided into a kitchen and a retail area that measures just 42 square metres.

Officers said: "The small size and layout of the premises are such that they could not function as what might reasonably be described as a restaurant or cafe.

"The Planning Authority regards this proposal as clearly being for a change of use to a takeaway. "