PLANS to turn a prominent city centre building into flats have been refused after Council officers said they would "provide inadequate living accommodation."

The application would have seen the top three floors of 25-27 Westgate, at the busy junction with Godwin Street and opposite the Kirkgate Centre, converted to nine one-bed flats.

The ground floor would remain as business units, with the basement converted into a gym.

But Bradford Council has now refused the application, which was submitted by Nigel Leedham late last year.

Planning officers pointed out that under current housing legislation, one-bed flats needed to have at least 37 square metres of living space.

Flats planned for former Bradford city centre gym

They said: "In terms of this application, nine flats are proposed, and four of the flats will have an internal floor area of between 31m2 and 32m2.

"The nine flats would have irregular forms due to the proposal being retrofitted within a corner building. The inadequate floor area and the irregular form of the flats will significantly affect the functionality, adaptability and liveability of the flats.

"As such the flats will provide inadequate living accommodation and will have a significant detrimental impact on the amenity of the future occupiers of the new flats."