A LATE licence has been granted to a restaurant that will be opening in a landmark building this Summer.

Work to convert the former Melbourne Hotel building on White Abbey Road into a restaurant was approved by Bradford Council last year, and the refurbishment has been underway for several months.

And this week, Bradford Council approved a late licence for the venue that would allow it to open until 2am on weekends.

The restaurant will be called Olivia Gardens, and the team behind the business say the aim is to open in July or August.

It will serve a continental menu with dishes from a variety of different cuisines and is expected to create around 40 jobs.

Since the Melbourne shut in 2006, the building has been used as a furniture warehouse. It has been empty for a number of years.

The three men behind the business, Mohammed Sanwal, Kahsam Farooq and Waqas Arif attended a meeting of the Bradford District Licensing Panel on Tuesday to talk about their plans for the restaurant.

They said the later licence would allow the restaurant to open late for events such as televised boxing matches, but a 2am opening would not necessarily be the norm.

Four people had initially objected to the late licence, raising concerns about noise nuisance and the impact of a 2am licence on elderly residents in the area.

But members of the panel were told that the applicants had since reassured residents and had signed a contract with a security firm that would make sure customers don't cause trouble when they leave.

They would also direct customers to park on White Abbey Road if the restaurant's car park is full.

Mr Farooq said: "We won't be selling alcohol, so we don't expect there to be much noise nuisance."

Mr Hussain said: "Residents now feel more comfortable knowing they no longer have a derelict empty property next to them, but an operating business."

Councillor Mohammed Amran (Lab, Heaton) attended the meeting to speak in favour of the plans. He said: "It has been empty for a number of years and this business has invested so much money to bring it back to use. It will create around 40 jobs."

Councillor Safraz Nazir (Lab, Manningham) said the business was in his ward, adding: "This will bring a beautiful building back to life."

The committee approved the late licence.