ONE of Bradford city centre’s most impressive buildings will become a Victorian-themed tearoom after new plans were approved.

The former Natwest on Hustlergate dates back to the 1860s, and is Grade II* listed, making it one of the city centre’s most protected heritage buildings.

But the bank has stood empty since Natwest consolidated its two city centre branches into their building next to Broadway in 2017.

Now the Hustlergate building will have a new lease of life after a planning application to convert the grand banking hall into an equally grand tearoom has been approved.

Built for Bradford Commercial Bank to the designs of local architects Andrews and Pepper, the bank has an ornately patterned ceiling as well as its grand exterior.

Submitted by Withernsea Investments, the application was for the building to be converted into a Victorian-themed tearoom.

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The plans involve alterations to the building’s interior, new external openings to create fire exits, new internal stairs, new toilet facilities, new raised floor and new internal fixtures and fittings.

The application said: “Careful consideration has been given to the building’s possible future use.

“In order to complement the building’s interior, it is proposed to refurbish and alter the ground floor to accommodate a local upmarket coffee shop/tearoom, with a Victorian influence.”

The application has now been approved by Bradford Council.

Discussing the plans for the building, the Council’s Conservation Officer Jon Ackroyd said: “It stands adjacent to the Grade I-listed Wool Exchange and contributes to one of the most significant heritage streetscapes in the city centre at the junction of Bank Street, Tyrell Street and Hustlergate.

“It employs an exuberant Gothic style with 13th-century detail. The corner tower above the main entrance is the most prominent feature but the whole building has a wealth of architectural features, with polished granite corner shafts to Gothic window apertures, pierced stone balconies, and both gabled stone dormers and timber hooded dormers to the roof.

“The interior retains a banking hall with a vaulted ceiling. The completeness and architectural wealth of the building justify its Grade II* listing.

“The re-use of the ground floor banking hall is welcomed.”

Planning officers said: “The proposed tearoom/coffee shop will complement the variety of retail uses found within the city centre shopping area.”

One of the conditions of the approval is that the business can only open between 8am and 11pm.