A ROW of city centre buildings will have their Victorian shop fronts restored and upper floors converted into housing if new plans are approved.

Two applications for 49-53 Darley Street have been submitted to Bradford Council.

One would see modern shop fronts replaced with more traditional frontages, and the other would see the building’s upper three floors converted into nine flats.

The properties sit within the City Centre Conservation Area.

The application, submitted by M Shabir, says: “(The site) comprises three of a terrace of five traditional late 19th Century buildings typical of many in the Conservation Area.

“The ground floor to Darley Street is typical of shopfronts from the late 20th Century.

“The proposed works are focused towards enhancing its structural integrity and sustainability while preserving its historical significance.”

Referring to the Conservation Area the properties lie within, the application says: “Although the ground floors of buildings in the Conservation Area tend to have been modernised as fashion changed, the upper floors remain true to the existing design.

“The resulting townscape is probably unique in its quality and completeness for any Victorian city in the UK.”

Decisions on the applications are expected in April.