A landmark residential development is set to create another impressive gateway to Bradford city centre.

The eye-catching 17-storey development, containing 362 apartments, will be built on a vacant patch of land bounded by Trafalgar Street and Snowden Street, near the junction of Manningham Lane and Hamm Strasse.

The scheme's oval tower, clad with stainless steel, is designed to rival Bradford's other gateway features, including the fin-shaped Gatehaus complex, in Leeds Road, and the proposed Citygate development, in Manchester Road.

The scheme, which has just been given full planning permission subject to a Section 106 agreement, is one of the biggest residential developments in Bradford ever to be given full planning permission.

The new apartments will be split into three different buildings - two seven-storey blocks and a 17-storey tower.

Andrew Gregory, managing director of Sailbridge Homes, an Oldham-based developer carrying out its first project in Bradford, said: "It's going to be a landmark site, mixing very modern materials on the tower with traditional stone on the adjoining buildings. We are looking to include a health centre to support the community. There's also a small commercial element."

Mr Gregory said Sailbridge Homes was hoping to start a two-year-build on the site in Spring 2009. He added that his company, which has completed several large developments in Greater Manchester and Kirklees, was looking for other development sites in Bradford.

The topography of the land will result in the new development becoming a prominent feature on the skyline when viewed from the south and east. A report by Bradford Council said: "The views from the junction of Hamm Stresse and Valley Road looking up towards the site will show a dominant building on the horizon."

Nearby buildings are relatively low-level, with the tallest adjacent building being the Connaught Rooms, an imposing function hall that used to be a Masonic Lodge. But the new development has been designed to ensure the buildings positioned at the western end of the site do not overpower the four-storey Connaught Rooms.

The 362 residential units will comprise 164 studios, 109 one-bedroom flats and 89 two-bedroom flats.

The scheme will also include 327 parking places with 18 visitors' spaces, a landscaped courtyard and public realm improvements on land at Trafalgar Street.

Several planning applications have been submitted for the site in the last four years and, in 2004, permission was granted for the demolition of the existing warehouse units.

The idea of another gateway development has been welcomed by Russell Baker, whose company is behind two other gateway schemes in Bradford - the now-complete Gatehaus and the proposed Citygate project.

Mr Baker, managing director of Asquith Properties, said: "There's a rationale about marking the city boundaries and having iconic buildings is the way forward."